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Prize-Winning Thesis and Dissertation Examples

Published on September 9, 2022 by Tegan George . Revised on July 18, 2023.

It can be difficult to know where to start when writing your thesis or dissertation . One way to come up with some ideas or maybe even combat writer’s block is to check out previous work done by other students on a similar thesis or dissertation topic to yours.

This article collects a list of undergraduate, master’s, and PhD theses and dissertations that have won prizes for their high-quality research.

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Table of contents

Award-winning undergraduate theses, award-winning master’s theses, award-winning ph.d. dissertations, other interesting articles.

University : University of Pennsylvania Faculty : History Author : Suchait Kahlon Award : 2021 Hilary Conroy Prize for Best Honors Thesis in World History Title : “Abolition, Africans, and Abstraction: the Influence of the “Noble Savage” on British and French Antislavery Thought, 1787-1807”

University : Columbia University Faculty : History Author : Julien Saint Reiman Award : 2018 Charles A. Beard Senior Thesis Prize Title : “A Starving Man Helping Another Starving Man”: UNRRA, India, and the Genesis of Global Relief, 1943-1947

University: University College London Faculty: Geography Author: Anna Knowles-Smith Award:  2017 Royal Geographical Society Undergraduate Dissertation Prize Title:  Refugees and theatre: an exploration of the basis of self-representation

University: University of Washington Faculty:  Computer Science & Engineering Author: Nick J. Martindell Award: 2014 Best Senior Thesis Award Title:  DCDN: Distributed content delivery for the modern web

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University:  University of Edinburgh Faculty:  Informatics Author:  Christopher Sipola Award:  2018 Social Responsibility & Sustainability Dissertation Prize Title:  Summarizing electricity usage with a neural network

University:  University of Ottawa Faculty:  Education Author:  Matthew Brillinger Award:  2017 Commission on Graduate Studies in the Humanities Prize Title:  Educational Park Planning in Berkeley, California, 1965-1968

University:  University of Ottawa Faculty: Social Sciences Author:  Heather Martin Award:  2015 Joseph De Koninck Prize Title:  An Analysis of Sexual Assault Support Services for Women who have a Developmental Disability

University : University of Ottawa Faculty : Physics Author : Guillaume Thekkadath Award : 2017 Commission on Graduate Studies in the Sciences Prize Title : Joint measurements of complementary properties of quantum systems

University:  London School of Economics Faculty: International Development Author: Lajos Kossuth Award:  2016 Winner of the Prize for Best Overall Performance Title:  Shiny Happy People: A study of the effects income relative to a reference group exerts on life satisfaction

University : Stanford University Faculty : English Author : Nathan Wainstein Award : 2021 Alden Prize Title : “Unformed Art: Bad Writing in the Modernist Novel”

University : University of Massachusetts at Amherst Faculty : Molecular and Cellular Biology Author : Nils Pilotte Award : 2021 Byron Prize for Best Ph.D. Dissertation Title : “Improved Molecular Diagnostics for Soil-Transmitted Molecular Diagnostics for Soil-Transmitted Helminths”

University:  Utrecht University Faculty:  Linguistics Author:  Hans Rutger Bosker Award: 2014 AVT/Anéla Dissertation Prize Title:  The processing and evaluation of fluency in native and non-native speech

University: California Institute of Technology Faculty: Physics Author: Michael P. Mendenhall Award: 2015 Dissertation Award in Nuclear Physics Title: Measurement of the neutron beta decay asymmetry using ultracold neutrons

University:  Stanford University Faculty: Management Science and Engineering Author:  Shayan O. Gharan Award:  Doctoral Dissertation Award 2013 Title:   New Rounding Techniques for the Design and Analysis of Approximation Algorithms

University: University of Minnesota Faculty: Chemical Engineering Author: Eric A. Vandre Award:  2014 Andreas Acrivos Dissertation Award in Fluid Dynamics Title: Onset of Dynamics Wetting Failure: The Mechanics of High-speed Fluid Displacement

University: Erasmus University Rotterdam Faculty: Marketing Author: Ezgi Akpinar Award: McKinsey Marketing Dissertation Award 2014 Title: Consumer Information Sharing: Understanding Psychological Drivers of Social Transmission

University: University of Washington Faculty: Computer Science & Engineering Author: Keith N. Snavely Award:  2009 Doctoral Dissertation Award Title: Scene Reconstruction and Visualization from Internet Photo Collections

University:  University of Ottawa Faculty:  Social Work Author:  Susannah Taylor Award: 2018 Joseph De Koninck Prize Title:  Effacing and Obscuring Autonomy: the Effects of Structural Violence on the Transition to Adulthood of Street Involved Youth

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UKnowledge > College of Engineering > Mechanical Engineering > Theses & Dissertations

Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical Engineering

Theses/dissertations from 2023 2023.

Utilization of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Towards Investigating the Structure of the Atmospheric Surface Layer , Loiy Al-Ghussain

MECHANICAL ENERGY HARVESTER FOR POWERING RFID SYSTEMS COMPONENTS: MODELING, ANALYSIS, OPTIMIZATION AND DESIGN , Alireza Babaei

Impact of spallation and internal radiation on fibrous ablative materials , Raghava Sai Chaitanya Davuluri

ANISOTROPIC MATERIAL BEHAVIOR OF 3D PRINTED FIBER COMPOSITES , Jordan Garcia

Stratospheric Glider Measurements of Atmospheric Parameters , Anisa Haghighi

Attrition Study of Copper-Supplemented Iron-Based Oxygen Carrier for Chemical Looping Combustion , Neng Huang

MACHINE LEARNING FOR ADVANCING AUTOMATION AND QUALITY CONTROL IN ROBOTIC WELDING , Joseph Kershaw

A computational fluid dynamic analysis of oxyacetylene combustion flow for use in material response boundary conditions , Craig Meade

MULTISCALE MODELING OF CARDIAC GROWTH AND BAROREFLEX CONTROL , Hossein Sharifi

Precision Meteorological Prediction Employing A Data-Driven, Adaptive, Real-Time (DART) Approach , Sujit Sinha

Parallel Real Time RRT*: An RRT* Based Path Planning Process , David Yackzan

Theses/Dissertations from 2022 2022

IN-SITU CHARACTERIZATION OF SURFACE QUALITY IN γ-TiAl AEROSPACE ALLOY MACHINING , David Adeniji

NUMERICAL AND SCALING STUDY ON APPLICATION OF INKJET TECHNOLOGY TO AUTOMOTIVE COATING , Masoud Arabghahestani Dr.

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF ROUGHNESS AND BLOWING EFFECTS OVER ABLATOR-LIKE SURFACES , Colby Borchetta

Energy and Economic Modeling of Stillage Dewatering Processes in Kentucky Bourbon Distilleries , William Brennan

Peridynamic Material Correspondence Models: Bond-Associated and Higher-Order Formulations , WaiLam Chan

A Decoupled Engineering Methodology for Accurate Prediction of Ablative Surface Boundary Conditions in Thermal Protection Systems , Justin Cooper

QUANTITATIVE METHODS FOR TOTAL LIFECYCLE RISK LIKELIHOOD AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT IN SUSTAINABLE PRODUCT DESIGN DECISION MAKING , Christian Enyoghasi

Numerical Investigation of an Oxyacetylene Torch With Regards to an Ablative Material , Luke Fortner

Formation Control with Collision Avoidance for Fixed-Wing Unmanned Air Vehicles With Speed Constraints , Christopher Heintz

Radiative Conductivity Estimation Using Direct Approach For Fibrous Materials , Mohammad Khaleel

Modeling Human Control Behavior in Command-following Tasks , Sajad Koushkbaghi

Formation Control with Bounded Controls and Collision Avoidance: Theory and Application to Quadrotor Unmanned Air Vehicles , Zachary S. Lippay

Small-Satellite Attitude Control Using Sinusoidal Actuator Motion: Experiments on the International Space Station , K. Ryan Lush

Kentucky Re-entry Universal Payload System (KRUPS): Hypersonic Re-entry Flight , John Daniel Schmidt

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Home > Engineering > CEE > CEE_DISS

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Civil & Environmental Engineering Dissertations Collection

Current students, please follow this link to submit your dissertation.

Dissertations from 2024 2024

DEVELOPMENT OF A DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM WEBTOOL FOR HISTORIC AND FUTURE LOW FLOW ESTIMATION IN THE NORTHEAST UNITED STATES WITH APPLICATIONS OF MACHINE LEARNING FOR ADVANCING PHYSICAL AND STATISTICAL METHODOLOGIES , Andrew F. DelSanto, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Application of Machine Learning in Improving Maintenance Scheduling of Railway Tracks , Saeed Goodarzitaeme, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Dissertations from 2023 2023

FUNCTIONALIZING THREE-DIMENSIONAL SUPERHYDROPHOBIC MATERIALS , Li He, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Spatial Analyses of Pedestrian Network Safety, Accessibility, and Equity Across Metropolitan Regions , Emily Rose Hennessy, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Steel deck diaphragms: Characterizing the hysteretic behavior of light gage steel, screw-fastened, support and sidelap connections and the influence of support connections on the stability behavior of panels , Divyansh Kapoor, Civil Engineering

WATER RESOURCES PLANNING UNDER DEEP UNCERTAINTY FOR PHYSICALLY, SOCIALLY, AND POLITICALLY COMPLEX SYSTEMS , Sarah St. George Freeman, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Dissertations from 2022 2022

SIZE PROGRESSION OF OXYGENIC PHOTOGRANULES (OPGs) AND ITS EFFECT ON OPG WASTEWATER TREATMENT , Ahmed S.A. Abouhend, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Optimizing Transportation Systems with Information Provision, Personalized Incentives and Driver Cooperation , Sayeeda Ayaz, Civil and Environmental Engineering

LATERAL RESPONSE OF COLD-FORMED STEEL DIAPHRAGMS WITH VARIABLE SHEATHING , Hernan Castaneda, Civil Engineering

ENHANCING MANAGEMENT OF BUILT AND NATURAL WATER AND SANITATION SYSTEMS WITH DATA SCIENCE , Nelson da Luz, Civil and Environmental Engineering

ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF BICYCLE TREATMENTS ON BICYCLE SAFETY: A MULTI-METHODS APPROACH , Aikaterini Deliali, Civil and Environmental Engineering

REMOTE SENSING OF HIGH LATITUDE RIVERS: APPROACHES, INSIGHTS, AND FUTURE RAMIFICATIONS , Merritt E. Harlan, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Experimental Investigation of Clay Aggregate and Granular Biofilm Behavior , Tao Jiang, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Big Data Nanoindentation: Concepts, Principles and Applications to Cemented Materials , Yucheng Li, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Analysis and Fate of 2,6-Dichloro-1,4-Benzoquinone in Real and Model Drinking Waters , Aarthi Mohan, Civil Engineering

PREDICTING WATER QUALITY VULNERABILITY UNDER CLIMATE CHANGE WITH MACHINE LEARNING , Khanh Thi Nhu Nguyen, Civil and Environmental Engineering

THE ROLE OF EXTRACELLULAR POLYMERIC SUBSTANCES IN THE ACCUMULATION AND TRANSPORT OF POLYSTYRENE NANOPARTICLES IN BIOFILMS , Joann Marie Rodríguez Suarez, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Equitable resource allocation to improve safety: An evaluation based on risk , Alyssa M. Ryan, Civil Engineering

Dissertations from 2021 2021

DENSITY STATE AND SHEAR BEHAVIOR OF GRANULAR SOILS WITH INFLUENCE OF PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION , Yibing Deng, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Harnessing the Mechanics of Thin-Walled Metallic Structures: from Plate-Lattice Materials to Cold-Formed Steel Shear Walls , Fani Derveni, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Cold-Formed Steel Stud Assemblies Bearing on Concrete Slabs , Abbas Joorabchian, Civil and Environmental Engineering

EXTRACELLULAR POLYMERIC SUBSTANCES IN OXYGENIC PHOTOGRANULES: INVESTIGATION OF THEIR ROLE IN PHOTOGRANULATION IN A HYDROSTATIC ENVIRONMENT , Wenye Camilla Kuo-Dahab, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Prediction of the Formation, Speciation, and Health Risks of Unregulated Disinfection Byproducts in Drinking Water using a Kinetic Binomial Model , Xian Ma, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Material Property Heterogeneity in Dimensional Lumber and its Relationship to Mass Timber Performance , Fiona O'Donnell, Civil and Environmental Engineering

MULTISCALE INVESTIGATION OF THIXOTROPY IN SOFT CLAYS , Jing Peng, Civil Engineering

Optimization and Technology-Based Strategies to Improve Public Transit Performance Accounting for Demand Distribution , Charalampos Sipetas, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Understanding the Safety Impacts of Left-Turn Infrastructure on the Vulnerable Driving Population , Francis Tainter, Civil and Environmental Engineering

A Comprehensive Protocol for Inspection and Assessment of Aging Steel Bridges: Experiments, Computations and 3D Laser Scanning of Field Corroded Girders , Georgios Tzortzinis, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Synthesis and Properties of a Novel Class of Superhydrophobic Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Polymers , Dongfang Wang, Civil Engineering

BUCKLING OF THIN CYLINDRICAL SHELLS: IMPERFECTION SENSITIVITY, NON-DESTRUCTIVE TECHNIQUE FOR CAPACITY PREDICTION AND APPLICATION FOR WIND TURBINE TOWERS , Kshitij Kumar Yadav, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Dissertations from 2020 2020

Investigating the role of iron in the photogranulation phenomenon , Abeera Ayaz Ansari, Civil Engineering

Characterization of a Natural Clayey Silt and the Effects of Sample Disturbance on Soil Behavior and Engineering Properties , Øyvind Blaker, Civil and Environmental Engineering

METHODOLOGIES FOR RESERVOIR SYSTEMS ANALYSIS: APPLICATION OF OPTIMIZATION AND DEEP LEARNING , Soheyl Borjian, Civil Engineering

SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF GEOPOLYMERS CAST AND CURED IN SALINE WATER AND THE POTENTIAL APPLICATION IN CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING , Xiaonan Ge, Civil and Environmental Engineering

SCALING UP THE OXYGENIC PHOTOGRANULE (OPG) WASTEWATER TREATMENT PROCESS , Joseph G. Gitau, Civil and Environmental Engineering

EVALUATION OF DRIVERS' TRUST IN AUTOMATED VEHICLES , Foroogh Hajiseyedjavadi, Civil and Environmental Engineering

NANOINDENTATION CHARACTERIZATION OF ELASTIC PROPERTIES OF SHALES AND SWELLING CLAY MINERALS , Shengmin Luo, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Dissertations from 2019 2019

FINITE ELEMENT SIMULATION OF BONDED AND MECHANICALLY ANCHORED SHEAR INTERFACES OF EXTERNALLY APPLIED FRP SHEETS TO CONCRETE AND WOOD-CONCRETE COMPOSITES , Alaa Al-Sammari, Civil Engineering

A Multiline Anchor Concept for Floating Offshore Wind Turbines , Casey Fontana, Civil Engineering

EQUITY AND EFFICIENCY IN MULTI-MODAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS , Nicholas M. Fournier, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Applications of Machine Learning Methods in Macroscopic Crash Analysis for Transportation Safety Management , Somaye Garmroudi Dovirani, Civil and Environmental Engineering

MECHANICAL PERFORMANCE OF STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS WITH MISSING MEMBERS: FROM BUILDINGS TO ARCHITECTED MATERIALS , Panagiotis Pantidis, Civil and Environmental Engineering

EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF BOTTOM BAR SPLICE LOCATION ON PERFORMANCE OF BEAMS IN REINFORCED CONCRETE PERIMETER FRAMES , Jorge Rivera Cruz, Civil Engineering

Laboratory Study of the Geotechnical Properties of Abraded Railway Ballast with Natural and Clay Mix Fouling , Andrew Rohrman, Civil and Environmental Engineering

APPLICATION OF GROUND PENETRATING RADAR FOR USE IN THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY SITE INVESTIGATIONS , Aaron J. Rubin, Civil Engineering

The Effects of Solute Composition and Nanoparticle Surface Properties on Nano-Bio Interactions , Zehui Xia, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Modeling and Optimizing Routing Decisions for Travelers and On-demand Service Providers , Xinlian Yu, Civil Engineering

Dissertations from 2018 2018

Role of Manganese Oxide in the Formation of Disinfection Byproducts in Drinking Water Treatment , Arianne A. Bazilio, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Preparing Water Supply Systems for Climate Change: The Role of Hydrologic Forecasting in the Northeast , Leslie DeCristofaro, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Evaluation of The Erodibility of Soft Clays and the Influence of Biopolymers , Pamela Judge, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Intersection Signal Control and Design for Improved Person Mobility and Air Quality in Urban Multimodal Transportation Systems , Farnoush Khalighi, Civil and Environmental Engineering

EVALUATING POLICY AND CLIMATE IMPACTS ON WATER RESOURCES SYSTEMS USING COUPLED HUMAN-NATURAL MODELS , HASSAAN FURQAN KHAN, Civil and Environmental Engineering

An Experimental Investigation of the Influence of Sampling on the Behavior of Intermediate Soils , William Lukas, Civil and Environmental Engineering

MODELING DEFORMATION BEHAVIOR AND STRENGTH CHARACTERISTICS OF SAND-SILT MIXTURES: A MICROMECHANICAL APPROACH , Mehrashk Meidani, Civil and Environmental Engineering

COMPRESSIBILITY AND NORMALIZED UNDRAINED SHEAR BEHAVIOR OF SOFT COASTAL FINE-GRAINED SOILS , Arash Pirouzi, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Flood Risk Assessment, Management and Perceptions in a Changing World , Katherine Schlef, Civil and Environmental Engineering

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF HYDRAULIC FRACTURING FLUID ON SHALE AND SOIL , Zhenning Yang, Civil Engineering

ORIGINS AND SEASONAL VARIATION OF DISINFECTION BYPRODUCT PRECURSORS , Ran Zhao, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Dissertations from 2017 2017

Seismic behavior of concrete frames with jacketed columns , Jose Alvarez, Civil Engineering

Microbial Dynamics and Design Considerations for Decentralized Microbial Fuel Cell Applications , Cynthia Castro, Civil Engineering

Total Organic Iodine Quantification and Occurrence in Drinking Water, and Toxicity Assessment of Iodinated Disinfection By-Products , Rassil El Sayess, Civil Engineering

Evaluating the Influence of Breakdown Fouling and Moisture Content on Mechanical and Electromagnetic Properties of Ballasted Railroad Track , Hamed Faghihi Kashani, Civil Engineering

Evaluating the Impacts of Driver Behavior in the Speed Selection Process and the Related Outcomes , Cole D. Fitzpatrick, Civil Engineering

AN EVALUATION OF TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES AND DRIVER DISTRACTION ON DRIVER BEHAVIOR AT RAILWAY-HIGHWAY GRADE CROSSINGS , Radhameris A. Gomez Gabriel, Civil Engineering

MULTI-CRITERIA DECISION MAKING WHEN PLANNING SUSTAINABLE MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION ROUTES in a LINEAR CORRIDOR , Marie Louis, Civil Engineering

Modeling Performance, Cost, Delivery, And Trip Distribution Of Demand Responsive Transit Systems With Zoning , Mahour Rahimi, Civil Engineering

Methods for incorporating ecological impacts with climate uncertainty to support robust flood management decision-making , Caitlin M. Spence, Civil Engineering

Microbial Competition in Bioelectrochemical Systems , Varun Srinivasan, Civil Engineering

DECISION ANALYTICAL METHODS FOR ROBUST WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING UNDER DEEP UNCERTAINTY , Mehmet Umit Taner, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Modeling and Modifying Day-to-Day Travel Behaviors: Empirical Results and Methodological Advances , Yue Tang, Civil Engineering

Dissertations from 2016 2016

Modeling Choice Problems with Heterogeneous User Preferences in the Transportation Network , Mahyar Amirgholy, Civil Engineering

Adaptive Route Choice in Stochastic Time-Dependent Networks: Routing Algorithms and Choice Modeling , Jing Ding-Mastera, Civil Engineering

Investigation of Effluent Nitrogen Derived from Conventional Activated Sludge (CAS) and Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) Systems and Its Impact on Algal Growth in Receiving Waters , Heonseop Eom, Civil Engineering

Predictive modeling of riverine constituent concentrations and loads using historic and imposed hydrologic conditions , Mark Hagemann, Civil Engineering

Proactive Assessment of Climate Change and Contaminant Spill Impacts on Source Water Quality , Lillian C. Jeznach, Civil Engineering

Modeling Interactions Between Human Factors and Traffic Flow Characteristics , Chaoqun Jia, Civil Engineering

The Stability of Ferrate(VI) in Water and Its Impacts on Disinfection Byproduct Precursors , Yanjun Jiang, Civil Engineering

Detailed Study of Integral Abutment Bridges and Performance of Bridge Joints in Traditional Bridges , Brooke H. Quinn, Civil Engineering

A Vulnerability Framework for Assessing the Risks to Water Supply Systems Under Climate Uncertainty in the Urban Northeastern United States , Sarah Whateley, Civil Engineering

The Fate of Haloacetonitriles in Drinking Waters , Yun Yu, Civil Engineering

Transit Preferential Treatments at Signalized Intersections: Person-based Evaluation and Real-Time Signal Control , Yashar Zeiynali Farid, Civil Engineering

Dissertations from 2015 2015

Microscopic Modeling of Driver Behavior Based on Modifying Field Theory for Work Zone Application , Andrew L. Berthaume, Civil Engineering

Soil-Structure Modeling and Design Considerations for Offshore Wind Turbine Monopile Foundations , Wystan Carswell, Civil Engineering

Evaluation of Ferrate Preoxidation for Drinking Water Treatment , Joseph E. Goodwill, Civil Engineering

An Analysis of Partial-Depth, Floating, Impermeable Guidance Structures for Downstream Fish Passage at Hydroelectric Facilities , Kevin Mulligan, Civil Engineering

Dissertations from 2014 2014

A FRAMEWORK AND ANALYTICAL APPROACH TO EVALUATE ALTERNATIVE VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED (VMT) FEE SYSTEMS , Elizabeth V. Ebacher, Civil Engineering

Impact of water heating on disinfection byproducts concentration , Boning Liu, Civil Engineering

Essays on the Quantification and Propagation of Uncertainty in Climate Change Impact Assessments for Water Resource Systems , Scott Steinschneider, Civil Engineering

Dissertations from 2013 2013

Mesostructural Characterization and Probabilistic Modeling of the Design Limit States of Parallel Strand Lumber , Alireza Amini, Civil Engineering

Development of Miniature Full Flow and Model Pipeline Probes for Testing of Box Core Samples of Surficial Seabed Sediments , Adriane G. Boscardin, Civil Engineering

Measurement of the Hydraulic Conductivity of Gravels Using a Laboratory Permeameter and Silty Sands Using Field Testing with Observation Wells , Aaron Judge, Civil Engineering

Geochemistry and Inorganic Carbon Transport of a Glacial Till Drumlin at a Road Salt Facility , Houbao Li, Civil Engineering

A hazard-based risk analysis approach to understanding climate change impacts to water resource systems: application to the Upper Great Lakes , Paul Markert Moody, Civil Engineering

Travelers' Route Choice Behavior in Risky Networks , Hengliang Tian, Civil Engineering

Investigation of microalgae cultivation and anaerobic codigestion of algae and sewage sludge for wastewater treatment facilities , Meng Wang, Civil Engineering

Dissertations from 2012 2012

Investigation Of Excess Sludge Reduction By An Anaerobic Side-Stream Reactor (ASSR): The Role Of EPS And Enzymes In Sludge Floc , Dong-Hyun Chon, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Investigation of excess sludge reduction by an anaerobic side-stream reactor (ASSR): The role of EPS and enzymes in sludge floc , Dong-Hyun Chon

Risk Quantification of Maple Trees Subjected to Wind Loading , Cihan Ciftci, Civil Engineering

Real-Time Information and Correlations for Optimal Routing in Stochastic Networks , He Huang, Civil Engineering

Performance Monitoring and Analysis of Integral Abutment Bridges , Emre Kalayci, Civil and Environmental Engineering

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This collection of MIT Theses in DSpace contains selected theses and dissertations from all MIT departments. Please note that this is NOT a complete collection of MIT theses. To search all MIT theses, use MIT Libraries' catalog .

MIT's DSpace contains more than 58,000 theses completed at MIT dating as far back as the mid 1800's. Theses in this collection have been scanned by the MIT Libraries or submitted in electronic format by thesis authors. Since 2004 all new Masters and Ph.D. theses are scanned and added to this collection after degrees are awarded.

MIT Theses are openly available to all readers. Please share how this access affects or benefits you. Your story matters.

If you have questions about MIT theses in DSpace, [email protected] . See also Access & Availability Questions or About MIT Theses in DSpace .

If you are a recent MIT graduate, your thesis will be added to DSpace within 3-6 months after your graduation date. Please email [email protected] with any questions.

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MIT Theses may be protected by copyright. Please refer to the MIT Libraries Permissions Policy for permission information. Note that the copyright holder for most MIT theses is identified on the title page of the thesis.

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Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Theses and dissertations published by graduate students in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering, Old Dominion University since Fall 2016 are available in this collection. Backfiles of all dissertations (and some theses) have also been added.

In late Fall 2023 or Spring 2024, all theses will be digitized and available here. In the meantime, consult the Library Catalog to find older items in print.

Theses/Dissertations from 2023 2023

Thesis: Switching Methods for Three-Dimensional Rotational Dynamics Using Modified Rodrigues Parameters , Matthew Jarrett Banks

Dissertation: Studies of Flowfields and Dynamic Stability Characteristics of a Quadrotor , Engin Baris

Thesis: Development, Experimental Validation, and Progressive Failure Modeling of an Ultra-Thin High Stiffness Deployable Composite Boom for in-Space Applications , Jimesh D. Bhagatji

Thesis: Design and Implementation of a Launching Method for Free to Oscillate Dynamic Stability Testing , Kristen M. Carey

Thesis: SeaLion CubeSat Mission Architecture Using Model Based Systems Engineering with a Docs as Code Approach , Kevin Yi-Tzu Chiu

Dissertation: RoboRetrieve --In a Dual Role as a Hand-held Surgical Robot and a Collaborative Robot End-effector to Perform Spillage-free Specimen Retrieval in Laparoscopy , Siqin Dong

Thesis: Fabrication of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Components Using Stereolithography 3D Printing , Hannah Dyer

Thesis: Fusion Bonding Behavior of 3D Printed PA6/CF Composites Via Post Fabrication Compaction , Gonzalo Fernandez Mediavilla

Dissertation: Machine Learning Approach to Activity Categorization in Young Adults Using Biomechanical Metrics , Nathan Q. C. Holland

Thesis: Study of Microphonic Effects on the C100 Cryomodule for High Energy Electron Beam Accelerators , Caleb James Hull

Dissertation: E-Cadherin Force Transmission and Stiffness Sensing , Mazen Mezher

Thesis: Experimental and Computational Aerodynamic Studies of Axially-Oriented Low-Fineness-Ratio Cylinders , Forrest Miller

Thesis: The Effect of Through Thickness Reinforcement Angle on the Disbonding Behavior in Skin-Stringer Configuration , Christopher John Morris

Dissertation: Chemical and Physical Interaction Mechanisms and Multifunctional Properties of Plant Based Graphene in Carbon Fiber Epoxy Composites , Daniel W. Mulqueen

Thesis: Data-Driven Predictive Modeling to Enhance Search Efficiency of Glowworm-Inspired Robotic Swarms in Multiple Emission Source Localization Tasks , Payal Nandi

Dissertation: Fabrication of Smooth SAC305 Thin Films via Magnetron Sputtering and Evaluations of Microstructure, Creep, and Electrical Resistivity , Manish Ojha

Dissertation: Faster, Cheaper, and Better CFD: A Case for Machine Learning to Augment Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes , John Peter Romano II

Thesis: A Comparative Study of Vinti-Based Orbit Propagation and Estimation for CubeSats in Very Low Earth Orbits , Ethan Michael Senecal

Theses/Dissertations from 2022 2022

Thesis: A Comparison of Uniaxial Compressive Response and Inelastic Deformation Mechanisms in Freeze Cast Alumina-Epoxy Composites Without and With Rigid Confinement , Tareq Aljuhari

Thesis: Failure Mode, Effects and Criticality Analysis of a Very Low Earth Orbit CubeSat Mission , Robb Christopher Borowicz

Thesis: A Study of Asymmetric Supersonic Wind Tunnel Nozzle Design , Brittany A. Davis

Thesis: Electromagnetic Modeling of a Wind Tunnel Magnetic Suspension and Balance System , Desiree Driver

Dissertation: Advanced Generalized Predictive Control and Its Application to Tiltrotor Aircraft for Stability Augmentation and Vibration Reduction , Thomas Glen Ivanco

Dissertation: Numerical Simulation of Electroosmotic Flow of Viscoelastic Fluid in Microchannel , Jianyu Ji

Thesis: Assembly of Ceramic Particles in Aqueous Suspensions Induced by High-Frequency AC Electric Field , James E. John IV

Dissertation: The Effect of Soft Tissue and Bone Morphology on the Stresses in the Foot and Ankle , Jinhyuk Kim

Thesis: Development of Modeling and Simulation Platform for Path-Planning and Control of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles in Three-Dimensional Spaces , Sai Krishna Abhiram Kondapalli

Thesis: Deep Learning Object-Based Detection of Manufacturing Defects in X-ray Inspection Imaging , Juan C. Parducci

Dissertation: Utilization of Finite Element Analysis Techniques for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Surgical Planning , Michael A. Polanco

Thesis: Mechanics of Preimpregnated Fiber Tow Deposition and Compaction , Virginia Meredith Rauch

Dissertation: Role of Structural Hierarchy in Multiscale Material Systems , Siavash Sattar

Thesis: Implementation of an Extended Kalman Filter Using Inertial Sensor Data for UAVs During GPS Denied Applications , Sky Seliquini

Dissertation: Collaborative Robotics Strategies for Handling Non-Repetitive Micro-Drilling Tasks Characterized by Low Structural Mechanical Impedance , Xiangyu Wang

Theses/Dissertations from 2021 2021

Dissertation: Tunable Compressive Mechanical Behavior of Ice-Templated Materials , Sashanka Akurati

Thesis: Analysis of a Non-Equilibrium Vortex Pair as Aircraft Trailing Vortices , Manuel Ayala

Thesis: Modeling Interactions in Concentrated Ceramic Suspensions Under AC Electric Field , Naga Bharath Gundrati

Dissertation: Improved Strain Gage Instrumentation Strategies for Rotorcraft Blade Measurements , Timothy S. Davis

Thesis: A Model-Based Systems Engineering Approach to e-VTOL Aircraft and Airspace Infrastructure Design for Urban Air Mobility , Heidi Selina Glaudel

Dissertation: Development and Applications of Adjoint-Based Aerodynamic and Aeroacoustic Multidisciplinary Optimization for Rotorcraft , Ramiz Omur Icke

Thesis: A New Method for Estimating the Physical Characteristics of Martian Dust Devils , Shelly Cahoon Mann

Thesis: Post-Processing and Characterization of Additive Manufactured Carbon Fiber Reinforced Semi-Crystalline Polymers , Patricia Revolinsky

Thesis: Gradient-Based Tradeoff Design for Engineering Applications , Lena Alexis Royster

Thesis: The Effect of Through Thickness Reinforcement on Debonding Behavior of Skin/Stringer Configuration , Yogaraja Sridhar

Thesis: Empirical Modeling of Tilt-Rotor Aerodynamic Performance , Michael C. Stratton

Thesis: A Digital One Degree of Freedom Model of an Electromagnetic Position Sensor , Michelle Elizabeth Weinmann

Theses/Dissertations from 2020 2020

Thesis: Parametric Study of Residual Stresses in Wire and Arc Additive Manufactured Parts , Hisham Khaled Jamil Abusalma

Thesis: The Effect of Compaction Temperature and Pressure on Mechanical Properties of 3D Printed Short Glass Fiber Composites , Pushpashree Jain Ajith Kumar Jain

Thesis: Numerical Analysis of a Roadway Piezoelectric Harvesting System , Abdul Rahman Badawi

Dissertation: Role of Anisometric Particles in Ice-Templated Porous Ceramic Structure and Mechanical Properties , Mahesh Banda

Thesis: Mechanism of Compaction With Wrinkle Formation During Automatic Stitching of Dry Fabrics and the Size Effect of Compression Molded Discontinuous Fiber-Reinforced Composites , Anibal Benjamin Beltran Laredo

Thesis: Conical Orbital Mechanics: A Rework of Classic Orbit Transfer Mechanics , Cian Anthony Branco

Thesis: Rotorcraft Blade Angle Calibration Methods , Brian David Calvert Jr.

Dissertation: Onboard Autonomous Controllability Assessment for Fixed Wing sUAVs , Brian Edward Duvall

Thesis: A Parametric Analysis of a Turbofan Engine with an Auxiliary Bypass Combustion Chamber – The TurboAux Engine , Kaleab Fetahi

Thesis: Space-Based Countermeasure for Hypersonic Glide Vehicle , Robert Joseph Fowler IV

Thesis: Compaction and Residual Stress Modeling in Composite Manufactured with Automated Fiber Placement , Von Clyde Jamora

Thesis: Trajectory Simulation With Battery Modeling for Electric Powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicles , Ege Konuk

Thesis: Detailed Modeling of the Flash Hydrolysis of Algae for Biofuel-Production in COMSOL Multiphysics , Noah Joseph LeGrand

Thesis: Through-Thickness Reinforcement and Repair of Carbon Fiber Based Honeycomb Structures Under Flexure and Tension of Adhesively Bonded Joints , Aleric Alden Sanders

Thesis: Energy Harvesting Using Flextensional Piezoelectric Energy Harvesters in Resonance and Off-Resonance Modes , Mohamed A. Shabara

Thesis: Thermal Contact Resistance Measurement and Related Uncertainties , Amanda Elizabeth Stark

Thesis: Model Based Systems Engineering for a Venture Class Launch Facility , Walter McGee Taraila

Thesis: A Post-Impact Behavior of Platelet-Based Composites Produced by Compression Molding , Christopher Eugene Ervin Volle

Thesis: Nonlinearity Index Aircraft Spin Motion Analysis With Dynamic Inversion Spin Recovery Controller Design , Jeffry Walker

Thesis: A Study of the Aeroacoustics of Swept Propellers for Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles , Arthur David Wiedemann

Thesis: Finite Element Analysis Investigation of Hybrid Thin-Ply Composites for Improved Performance of Aerospace Structures , Alana M. Zahn

Theses/Dissertations from 2019 2019

Thesis: Characterization and Optimization of a Propeller Test Stand , Colin Bruce Leighton Benjamin

Dissertation: Endogenous Force Transmission Between Epithelial Cells and a Role for α-Catenin , Sandeep Dumbali

Dissertation: Effect of the Physical Micro-Environment on Cell Adhesion and Force Exertion , Mohamad Eftekharjoo

Thesis: Reducing the Noise Impact of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles by Flight Control System Augmentation , Matthew B. Galles

Thesis: Design and Manufacture of an Inertial Cascade Impactor for Industrial Hygiene Purposes , Hector Joel Gortaire

Thesis: Off Axis Compressive Response of Ice-Templated Ceramics , Rahul Kumar Jujjavarapu

Thesis: Unsupervised-Learning Assisted Artificial Neural Network for Optimization , Varun Kote

Dissertation: Numerical Simulation of Viscoelastic Flow in Micro/Nanochannels , Lanju Mei

Thesis: Comparison of Support Methods for Static Aerodynamic Testing and Validation of a Magnetic Suspension and Balance System , Cameron K. Neill

Thesis: Extension of a Penalty Method for Numerically Solving Constrained Multibody Dynamic Problems , Troy Newhart

Dissertation: Computational Analysis and Design Optimization of Convective PCR Devices , Jung Il Shu

Thesis: Periodic Orbit Analytic Construction In The Circular Restricted Three-Body Problem , Jay Shriram Suryawanshi

Thesis: A CFD Study of Steady Fully Developed Laminar Flow Through a 90-Degree Bend Pipe with a Square Cross-Sectional Area , Subodh Sushant Toraskar

Dissertation: Estimation of Arterial Wall Parameters Via Model-Based Analysis of Noninvasively Measured Arterial Pulse Signals , Dan Wang

Theses/Dissertations from 2018 2018

Thesis: Offshore Wind Energy: Simulating Local Offshore Wind Turbine , Ian P. Aquino

Dissertation: Epithelial Sheet Response to External Stimuli , Yashar Bashirzadeh

Thesis: Anthropomorphically Inspired Design of a Tendon-Driven Robotic Prosthesis for Hand Impairments , Manali Bapurao Bhadugale

Thesis: Aerothermodynamic Analysis of a Mars Sample Return Earth-Entry Vehicle , Daniel A. Boyd

Thesis: Volterra Series Approximation for Multi-Degree of Freedom, Multi-Input, Multi-Output, Aircraft Dynamics , Alexander J. Chen

Dissertation: Simplified, Alternative Formulation of Numerical Simulation of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell , Russell L. Edwards

Thesis: Distributed Sensing and System Identification of Cantilever Beams and Plates in the Presence of Weak Nonlinearities , Patrick Sean Heaney

Thesis: Dynamic Response Modeling of High Speed Planing Craft with Enforced Acceleration , Brian K. Johnson

Dissertation: Identification and Optimal Linear Tracking Control of ODU Autonomous Surface Vehicle , Nadeem Khan

Dissertation: Design and Implementation of an Artificial Neural Network Controller for Quadrotor Flight in Confined Environment , Ahmed Mekky

Thesis: Gust Alleviation System for General Aviation Aircraft , Lucas Coleman Mills

Thesis: Human-Robot Collaborative Force-Controlled Micro-Drilling for Advanced Manufacturing and Medical Applications , Parimal Mahesh Prajapati

Thesis: Single-Stage, Venturi-Driven Desalination System , Brandon Proetto

Thesis: A Cost Effective Design for a Propeller Thrust/Torque Balance , Nicholas Barrett Sadowski

Dissertation: Understanding the Mechanical Behavior of Costal Cartilage at Their Curved Exterior Surface Via a Tactile Sensor with a Built-In Probe for Distributed-Deflection Detection , Jiayue Shen

Thesis: A Scientific Approach to Understanding the Head Trauma Endured by a Mixed Martial Arts Fighter , John William Michael Sorbello

Thesis: Robocatch: Design and Making of a Hand-Held Spillage-Free Specimen Retrieval Robot for Laparoscopic Surgery , Farid Tavakkolmoghaddam

Thesis: Effects of Automated Fiber Placement on High Strain Rate Compressive Response of Advanced Composites , Alexander Trochez

Thesis: A Monolithic Internal Strain-Gage Balance Design Based on Design for Manufacturability , Thomas Ladson Webb III

Dissertation: A Stepwise Compression-Relaxation Testing Method for Tissue Characterization and Tumor Detection Via a Two-Dimensional Tactile Sensor , Yichao Yang

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Digital Commons @ USF > College of Engineering > Computer Science and Engineering > Theses and Dissertations

Computer Science and Engineering Theses and Dissertations

Theses/dissertations from 2023 2023.

Refining the Machine Learning Pipeline for US-based Public Transit Systems , Jennifer Adorno

Insect Classification and Explainability from Image Data via Deep Learning Techniques , Tanvir Hossain Bhuiyan

Brain-Inspired Spatio-Temporal Learning with Application to Robotics , Thiago André Ferreira Medeiros

Evaluating Methods for Improving DNN Robustness Against Adversarial Attacks , Laureano Griffin

Analyzing Multi-Robot Leader-Follower Formations in Obstacle-Laden Environments , Zachary J. Hinnen

Secure Lightweight Cryptographic Hardware Constructions for Deeply Embedded Systems , Jasmin Kaur

A Psychometric Analysis of Natural Language Inference Using Transformer Language Models , Antonio Laverghetta Jr.

Graph Analysis on Social Networks , Shen Lu

Deep Learning-based Automatic Stereology for High- and Low-magnification Images , Hunter Morera

Deciphering Trends and Tactics: Data-driven Techniques for Forecasting Information Spread and Detecting Coordinated Campaigns in Social Media , Kin Wai Ng Lugo

Automated Approaches to Enable Innovative Civic Applications from Citizen Generated Imagery , Hye Seon Yi

Theses/Dissertations from 2022 2022

Towards High Performing and Reliable Deep Convolutional Neural Network Models for Typically Limited Medical Imaging Datasets , Kaoutar Ben Ahmed

Task Progress Assessment and Monitoring Using Self-Supervised Learning , Sainath Reddy Bobbala

Towards More Task-Generalized and Explainable AI Through Psychometrics , Alec Braynen

A Multiple Input Multiple Output Framework for the Automatic Optical Fractionator-based Cell Counting in Z-Stacks Using Deep Learning , Palak Dave

On the Reliability of Wearable Sensors for Assessing Movement Disorder-Related Gait Quality and Imbalance: A Case Study of Multiple Sclerosis , Steven Díaz Hernández

Securing Critical Cyber Infrastructures and Functionalities via Machine Learning Empowered Strategies , Tao Hou

Social Media Time Series Forecasting and User-Level Activity Prediction with Gradient Boosting, Deep Learning, and Data Augmentation , Fred Mubang

A Study of Deep Learning Silhouette Extractors for Gait Recognition , Sneha Oladhri

Analyzing Decision-making in Robot Soccer for Attacking Behaviors , Justin Rodney

Generative Spatio-Temporal and Multimodal Analysis of Neonatal Pain , Md Sirajus Salekin

Secure Hardware Constructions for Fault Detection of Lattice-based Post-quantum Cryptosystems , Ausmita Sarker

Adaptive Multi-scale Place Cell Representations and Replay for Spatial Navigation and Learning in Autonomous Robots , Pablo Scleidorovich

Predicting the Number of Objects in a Robotic Grasp , Utkarsh Tamrakar

Humanoid Robot Motion Control for Ramps and Stairs , Tommy Truong

Preventing Variadic Function Attacks Through Argument Width Counting , Brennan Ward

Theses/Dissertations from 2021 2021

Knowledge Extraction and Inference Based on Visual Understanding of Cooking Contents , Ahmad Babaeian Babaeian Jelodar

Efficient Post-Quantum and Compact Cryptographic Constructions for the Internet of Things , Rouzbeh Behnia

Efficient Hardware Constructions for Error Detection of Post-Quantum Cryptographic Schemes , Alvaro Cintas Canto

Using Hyper-Dimensional Spanning Trees to Improve Structure Preservation During Dimensionality Reduction , Curtis Thomas Davis

Design, Deployment, and Validation of Computer Vision Techniques for Societal Scale Applications , Arup Kanti Dey

AffectiveTDA: Using Topological Data Analysis to Improve Analysis and Explainability in Affective Computing , Hamza Elhamdadi

Automatic Detection of Vehicles in Satellite Images for Economic Monitoring , Cole Hill

Analysis of Contextual Emotions Using Multimodal Data , Saurabh Hinduja

Data-driven Studies on Social Networks: Privacy and Simulation , Yasanka Sameera Horawalavithana

Automated Identification of Stages in Gonotrophic Cycle of Mosquitoes Using Computer Vision Techniques , Sherzod Kariev

Exploring the Use of Neural Transformers for Psycholinguistics , Antonio Laverghetta Jr.

Secure VLSI Hardware Design Against Intellectual Property (IP) Theft and Cryptographic Vulnerabilities , Matthew Dean Lewandowski

Turkic Interlingua: A Case Study of Machine Translation in Low-resource Languages , Jamshidbek Mirzakhalov

Automated Wound Segmentation and Dimension Measurement Using RGB-D Image , Chih-Yun Pai

Constructing Frameworks for Task-Optimized Visualizations , Ghulam Jilani Abdul Rahim Quadri

Trilateration-Based Localization in Known Environments with Object Detection , Valeria M. Salas Pacheco

Recognizing Patterns from Vital Signs Using Spectrograms , Sidharth Srivatsav Sribhashyam

Recognizing Emotion in the Wild Using Multimodal Data , Shivam Srivastava

A Modular Framework for Multi-Rotor Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for Military Operations , Dante Tezza

Human-centered Cybersecurity Research — Anthropological Findings from Two Longitudinal Studies , Anwesh Tuladhar

Learning State-Dependent Sensor Measurement Models To Improve Robot Localization Accuracy , Troi André Williams

Human-centric Cybersecurity Research: From Trapping the Bad Guys to Helping the Good Ones , Armin Ziaie Tabari

Theses/Dissertations from 2020 2020

Classifying Emotions with EEG and Peripheral Physiological Data Using 1D Convolutional Long Short-Term Memory Neural Network , Rupal Agarwal

Keyless Anti-Jamming Communication via Randomized DSSS , Ahmad Alagil

Active Deep Learning Method to Automate Unbiased Stereology Cell Counting , Saeed Alahmari

Composition of Atomic-Obligation Security Policies , Yan Cao Albright

Action Recognition Using the Motion Taxonomy , Maxat Alibayev

Sentiment Analysis in Peer Review , Zachariah J. Beasley

Spatial Heterogeneity Utilization in CT Images for Lung Nodule Classication , Dmitrii Cherezov

Feature Selection Via Random Subsets Of Uncorrelated Features , Long Kim Dang

Unifying Security Policy Enforcement: Theory and Practice , Shamaria Engram

PsiDB: A Framework for Batched Query Processing and Optimization , Mehrad Eslami

Composition of Atomic-Obligation Security Policies , Danielle Ferguson

Algorithms To Profile Driver Behavior From Zero-permission Embedded Sensors , Bharti Goel

The Efficiency and Accuracy of YOLO for Neonate Face Detection in the Clinical Setting , Jacqueline Hausmann

Beyond the Hype: Challenges of Neural Networks as Applied to Social Networks , Anthony Hernandez

Privacy-Preserving and Functional Information Systems , Thang Hoang

Managing Off-Grid Power Use for Solar Fueled Residences with Smart Appliances, Prices-to-Devices and IoT , Donnelle L. January

Novel Bit-Sliced In-Memory Computing Based VLSI Architecture for Fast Sobel Edge Detection in IoT Edge Devices , Rajeev Joshi

Edge Computing for Deep Learning-Based Distributed Real-time Object Detection on IoT Constrained Platforms at Low Frame Rate , Lakshmikavya Kalyanam

Establishing Topological Data Analysis: A Comparison of Visualization Techniques , Tanmay J. Kotha

Machine Learning for the Internet of Things: Applications, Implementation, and Security , Vishalini Laguduva Ramnath

System Support of Concurrent Database Query Processing on a GPU , Hao Li

Deep Learning Predictive Modeling with Data Challenges (Small, Big, or Imbalanced) , Renhao Liu

Countermeasures Against Various Network Attacks Using Machine Learning Methods , Yi Li

Towards Safe Power Oversubscription and Energy Efficiency of Data Centers , Sulav Malla

Design of Support Measures for Counting Frequent Patterns in Graphs , Jinghan Meng

Automating the Classification of Mosquito Specimens Using Image Processing Techniques , Mona Minakshi

Models of Secure Software Enforcement and Development , Hernan M. Palombo

Functional Object-Oriented Network: A Knowledge Representation for Service Robotics , David Andrés Paulius Ramos

Lung Nodule Malignancy Prediction from Computed Tomography Images Using Deep Learning , Rahul Paul

Algorithms and Framework for Computing 2-body Statistics on Graphics Processing Units , Napath Pitaksirianan

Efficient Viewshed Computation Algorithms On GPUs and CPUs , Faisal F. Qarah

Relational Joins on GPUs for In-Memory Database Query Processing , Ran Rui

Micro-architectural Countermeasures for Control Flow and Misspeculation Based Software Attacks , Love Kumar Sah

Efficient Forward-Secure and Compact Signatures for the Internet of Things (IoT) , Efe Ulas Akay Seyitoglu

Detecting Symptoms of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Congestive Heart Failure via Cough and Wheezing Sounds Using Smart-Phones and Machine Learning , Anthony Windmon

Toward Culturally Relevant Emotion Detection Using Physiological Signals , Khadija Zanna

Theses/Dissertations from 2019 2019

Beyond Labels and Captions: Contextualizing Grounded Semantics for Explainable Visual Interpretation , Sathyanarayanan Narasimhan Aakur

Empirical Analysis of a Cybersecurity Scoring System , Jaleel Ahmed

Phenomena of Social Dynamics in Online Games , Essa Alhazmi

A Machine Learning Approach to Predicting Community Engagement on Social Media During Disasters , Adel Alshehri

Interactive Fitness Domains in Competitive Coevolutionary Algorithm , ATM Golam Bari

Measuring Influence Across Social Media Platforms: Empirical Analysis Using Symbolic Transfer Entropy , Abhishek Bhattacharjee

A Communication-Centric Framework for Post-Silicon System-on-chip Integration Debug , Yuting Cao

Authentication and SQL-Injection Prevention Techniques in Web Applications , Cagri Cetin

Multimodal Emotion Recognition Using 3D Facial Landmarks, Action Units, and Physiological Data , Diego Fabiano

Robotic Motion Generation by Using Spatial-Temporal Patterns from Human Demonstrations , Yongqiang Huang

A GPU-Based Framework for Parallel Spatial Indexing and Query Processing , Zhila Nouri Lewis

A Flexible, Natural Deduction, Automated Reasoner for Quick Deployment of Non-Classical Logic , Trisha Mukhopadhyay

An Efficient Run-time CFI Check for Embedded Processors to Detect and Prevent Control Flow Based Attacks , Srivarsha Polnati

Force Feedback and Intelligent Workspace Selection for Legged Locomotion Over Uneven Terrain , John Rippetoe

Detecting Digitally Forged Faces in Online Videos , Neilesh Sambhu

Malicious Manipulation in Service-Oriented Network, Software, and Mobile Systems: Threats and Defenses , Dakun Shen

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Grad Coach

Dissertation Structure & Layout 101: How to structure your dissertation, thesis or research project.

By: Derek Jansen (MBA) Reviewed By: David Phair (PhD) | July 2019

So, you’ve got a decent understanding of what a dissertation is , you’ve chosen your topic and hopefully you’ve received approval for your research proposal . Awesome! Now its time to start the actual dissertation or thesis writing journey.

To craft a high-quality document, the very first thing you need to understand is dissertation structure . In this post, we’ll walk you through the generic dissertation structure and layout, step by step. We’ll start with the big picture, and then zoom into each chapter to briefly discuss the core contents. If you’re just starting out on your research journey, you should start with this post, which covers the big-picture process of how to write a dissertation or thesis .

Dissertation structure and layout - the basics

*The Caveat *

In this post, we’ll be discussing a traditional dissertation/thesis structure and layout, which is generally used for social science research across universities, whether in the US, UK, Europe or Australia. However, some universities may have small variations on this structure (extra chapters, merged chapters, slightly different ordering, etc).

So, always check with your university if they have a prescribed structure or layout that they expect you to work with. If not, it’s safe to assume the structure we’ll discuss here is suitable. And even if they do have a prescribed structure, you’ll still get value from this post as we’ll explain the core contents of each section.  

Overview: S tructuring a dissertation or thesis

  • Acknowledgements page
  • Abstract (or executive summary)
  • Table of contents , list of figures and tables
  • Chapter 1: Introduction
  • Chapter 2: Literature review
  • Chapter 3: Methodology
  • Chapter 4: Results
  • Chapter 5: Discussion
  • Chapter 6: Conclusion
  • Reference list

As I mentioned, some universities will have slight variations on this structure. For example, they want an additional “personal reflection chapter”, or they might prefer the results and discussion chapter to be merged into one. Regardless, the overarching flow will always be the same, as this flow reflects the research process , which we discussed here – i.e.:

  • The introduction chapter presents the core research question and aims .
  • The literature review chapter assesses what the current research says about this question.
  • The methodology, results and discussion chapters go about undertaking new research about this question.
  • The conclusion chapter (attempts to) answer the core research question .

In other words, the dissertation structure and layout reflect the research process of asking a well-defined question(s), investigating, and then answering the question – see below.

A dissertation's structure reflect the research process

To restate that – the structure and layout of a dissertation reflect the flow of the overall research process . This is essential to understand, as each chapter will make a lot more sense if you “get” this concept. If you’re not familiar with the research process, read this post before going further.

Right. Now that we’ve covered the big picture, let’s dive a little deeper into the details of each section and chapter. Oh and by the way, you can also grab our free dissertation/thesis template here to help speed things up.

The title page of your dissertation is the very first impression the marker will get of your work, so it pays to invest some time thinking about your title. But what makes for a good title? A strong title needs to be 3 things:

  • Succinct (not overly lengthy or verbose)
  • Specific (not vague or ambiguous)
  • Representative of the research you’re undertaking (clearly linked to your research questions)

Typically, a good title includes mention of the following:

  • The broader area of the research (i.e. the overarching topic)
  • The specific focus of your research (i.e. your specific context)
  • Indication of research design (e.g. quantitative , qualitative , or  mixed methods ).

For example:

A quantitative investigation [research design] into the antecedents of organisational trust [broader area] in the UK retail forex trading market [specific context/area of focus].

Again, some universities may have specific requirements regarding the format and structure of the title, so it’s worth double-checking expectations with your institution (if there’s no mention in the brief or study material).

Dissertations stacked up

Acknowledgements

This page provides you with an opportunity to say thank you to those who helped you along your research journey. Generally, it’s optional (and won’t count towards your marks), but it is academic best practice to include this.

So, who do you say thanks to? Well, there’s no prescribed requirements, but it’s common to mention the following people:

  • Your dissertation supervisor or committee.
  • Any professors, lecturers or academics that helped you understand the topic or methodologies.
  • Any tutors, mentors or advisors.
  • Your family and friends, especially spouse (for adult learners studying part-time).

There’s no need for lengthy rambling. Just state who you’re thankful to and for what (e.g. thank you to my supervisor, John Doe, for his endless patience and attentiveness) – be sincere. In terms of length, you should keep this to a page or less.

Abstract or executive summary

The dissertation abstract (or executive summary for some degrees) serves to provide the first-time reader (and marker or moderator) with a big-picture view of your research project. It should give them an understanding of the key insights and findings from the research, without them needing to read the rest of the report – in other words, it should be able to stand alone .

For it to stand alone, your abstract should cover the following key points (at a minimum):

  • Your research questions and aims – what key question(s) did your research aim to answer?
  • Your methodology – how did you go about investigating the topic and finding answers to your research question(s)?
  • Your findings – following your own research, what did do you discover?
  • Your conclusions – based on your findings, what conclusions did you draw? What answers did you find to your research question(s)?

So, in much the same way the dissertation structure mimics the research process, your abstract or executive summary should reflect the research process, from the initial stage of asking the original question to the final stage of answering that question.

In practical terms, it’s a good idea to write this section up last , once all your core chapters are complete. Otherwise, you’ll end up writing and rewriting this section multiple times (just wasting time). For a step by step guide on how to write a strong executive summary, check out this post .

Need a helping hand?

engineering degree dissertation examples

Table of contents

This section is straightforward. You’ll typically present your table of contents (TOC) first, followed by the two lists – figures and tables. I recommend that you use Microsoft Word’s automatic table of contents generator to generate your TOC. If you’re not familiar with this functionality, the video below explains it simply:

If you find that your table of contents is overly lengthy, consider removing one level of depth. Oftentimes, this can be done without detracting from the usefulness of the TOC.

Right, now that the “admin” sections are out of the way, its time to move on to your core chapters. These chapters are the heart of your dissertation and are where you’ll earn the marks. The first chapter is the introduction chapter – as you would expect, this is the time to introduce your research…

It’s important to understand that even though you’ve provided an overview of your research in your abstract, your introduction needs to be written as if the reader has not read that (remember, the abstract is essentially a standalone document). So, your introduction chapter needs to start from the very beginning, and should address the following questions:

  • What will you be investigating (in plain-language, big picture-level)?
  • Why is that worth investigating? How is it important to academia or business? How is it sufficiently original?
  • What are your research aims and research question(s)? Note that the research questions can sometimes be presented at the end of the literature review (next chapter).
  • What is the scope of your study? In other words, what will and won’t you cover ?
  • How will you approach your research? In other words, what methodology will you adopt?
  • How will you structure your dissertation? What are the core chapters and what will you do in each of them?

These are just the bare basic requirements for your intro chapter. Some universities will want additional bells and whistles in the intro chapter, so be sure to carefully read your brief or consult your research supervisor.

If done right, your introduction chapter will set a clear direction for the rest of your dissertation. Specifically, it will make it clear to the reader (and marker) exactly what you’ll be investigating, why that’s important, and how you’ll be going about the investigation. Conversely, if your introduction chapter leaves a first-time reader wondering what exactly you’ll be researching, you’ve still got some work to do.

Now that you’ve set a clear direction with your introduction chapter, the next step is the literature review . In this section, you will analyse the existing research (typically academic journal articles and high-quality industry publications), with a view to understanding the following questions:

  • What does the literature currently say about the topic you’re investigating?
  • Is the literature lacking or well established? Is it divided or in disagreement?
  • How does your research fit into the bigger picture?
  • How does your research contribute something original?
  • How does the methodology of previous studies help you develop your own?

Depending on the nature of your study, you may also present a conceptual framework towards the end of your literature review, which you will then test in your actual research.

Again, some universities will want you to focus on some of these areas more than others, some will have additional or fewer requirements, and so on. Therefore, as always, its important to review your brief and/or discuss with your supervisor, so that you know exactly what’s expected of your literature review chapter.

Dissertation writing

Now that you’ve investigated the current state of knowledge in your literature review chapter and are familiar with the existing key theories, models and frameworks, its time to design your own research. Enter the methodology chapter – the most “science-ey” of the chapters…

In this chapter, you need to address two critical questions:

  • Exactly HOW will you carry out your research (i.e. what is your intended research design)?
  • Exactly WHY have you chosen to do things this way (i.e. how do you justify your design)?

Remember, the dissertation part of your degree is first and foremost about developing and demonstrating research skills . Therefore, the markers want to see that you know which methods to use, can clearly articulate why you’ve chosen then, and know how to deploy them effectively.

Importantly, this chapter requires detail – don’t hold back on the specifics. State exactly what you’ll be doing, with who, when, for how long, etc. Moreover, for every design choice you make, make sure you justify it.

In practice, you will likely end up coming back to this chapter once you’ve undertaken all your data collection and analysis, and revise it based on changes you made during the analysis phase. This is perfectly fine. Its natural for you to add an additional analysis technique, scrap an old one, etc based on where your data lead you. Of course, I’m talking about small changes here – not a fundamental switch from qualitative to quantitative, which will likely send your supervisor in a spin!

You’ve now collected your data and undertaken your analysis, whether qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods. In this chapter, you’ll present the raw results of your analysis . For example, in the case of a quant study, you’ll present the demographic data, descriptive statistics, inferential statistics , etc.

Typically, Chapter 4 is simply a presentation and description of the data, not a discussion of the meaning of the data. In other words, it’s descriptive, rather than analytical – the meaning is discussed in Chapter 5. However, some universities will want you to combine chapters 4 and 5, so that you both present and interpret the meaning of the data at the same time. Check with your institution what their preference is.

Now that you’ve presented the data analysis results, its time to interpret and analyse them. In other words, its time to discuss what they mean, especially in relation to your research question(s).

What you discuss here will depend largely on your chosen methodology. For example, if you’ve gone the quantitative route, you might discuss the relationships between variables . If you’ve gone the qualitative route, you might discuss key themes and the meanings thereof. It all depends on what your research design choices were.

Most importantly, you need to discuss your results in relation to your research questions and aims, as well as the existing literature. What do the results tell you about your research questions? Are they aligned with the existing research or at odds? If so, why might this be? Dig deep into your findings and explain what the findings suggest, in plain English.

The final chapter – you’ve made it! Now that you’ve discussed your interpretation of the results, its time to bring it back to the beginning with the conclusion chapter . In other words, its time to (attempt to) answer your original research question s (from way back in chapter 1). Clearly state what your conclusions are in terms of your research questions. This might feel a bit repetitive, as you would have touched on this in the previous chapter, but its important to bring the discussion full circle and explicitly state your answer(s) to the research question(s).

Dissertation and thesis prep

Next, you’ll typically discuss the implications of your findings? In other words, you’ve answered your research questions – but what does this mean for the real world (or even for academia)? What should now be done differently, given the new insight you’ve generated?

Lastly, you should discuss the limitations of your research, as well as what this means for future research in the area. No study is perfect, especially not a Masters-level. Discuss the shortcomings of your research. Perhaps your methodology was limited, perhaps your sample size was small or not representative, etc, etc. Don’t be afraid to critique your work – the markers want to see that you can identify the limitations of your work. This is a strength, not a weakness. Be brutal!

This marks the end of your core chapters – woohoo! From here on out, it’s pretty smooth sailing.

The reference list is straightforward. It should contain a list of all resources cited in your dissertation, in the required format, e.g. APA , Harvard, etc.

It’s essential that you use reference management software for your dissertation. Do NOT try handle your referencing manually – its far too error prone. On a reference list of multiple pages, you’re going to make mistake. To this end, I suggest considering either Mendeley or Zotero. Both are free and provide a very straightforward interface to ensure that your referencing is 100% on point. I’ve included a simple how-to video for the Mendeley software (my personal favourite) below:

Some universities may ask you to include a bibliography, as opposed to a reference list. These two things are not the same . A bibliography is similar to a reference list, except that it also includes resources which informed your thinking but were not directly cited in your dissertation. So, double-check your brief and make sure you use the right one.

The very last piece of the puzzle is the appendix or set of appendices. This is where you’ll include any supporting data and evidence. Importantly, supporting is the keyword here.

Your appendices should provide additional “nice to know”, depth-adding information, which is not critical to the core analysis. Appendices should not be used as a way to cut down word count (see this post which covers how to reduce word count ). In other words, don’t place content that is critical to the core analysis here, just to save word count. You will not earn marks on any content in the appendices, so don’t try to play the system!

Time to recap…

And there you have it – the traditional dissertation structure and layout, from A-Z. To recap, the core structure for a dissertation or thesis is (typically) as follows:

  • Acknowledgments page

Most importantly, the core chapters should reflect the research process (asking, investigating and answering your research question). Moreover, the research question(s) should form the golden thread throughout your dissertation structure. Everything should revolve around the research questions, and as you’ve seen, they should form both the start point (i.e. introduction chapter) and the endpoint (i.e. conclusion chapter).

I hope this post has provided you with clarity about the traditional dissertation/thesis structure and layout. If you have any questions or comments, please leave a comment below, or feel free to get in touch with us. Also, be sure to check out the rest of the  Grad Coach Blog .

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This post is part of our dissertation mini-course, which covers everything you need to get started with your dissertation, thesis or research project. 

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36 Comments

ARUN kumar SHARMA

many thanks i found it very useful

Derek Jansen

Glad to hear that, Arun. Good luck writing your dissertation.

Sue

Such clear practical logical advice. I very much needed to read this to keep me focused in stead of fretting.. Perfect now ready to start my research!

hayder

what about scientific fields like computer or engineering thesis what is the difference in the structure? thank you very much

Tim

Thanks so much this helped me a lot!

Ade Adeniyi

Very helpful and accessible. What I like most is how practical the advice is along with helpful tools/ links.

Thanks Ade!

Aswathi

Thank you so much sir.. It was really helpful..

You’re welcome!

Jp Raimundo

Hi! How many words maximum should contain the abstract?

Karmelia Renatee

Thank you so much 😊 Find this at the right moment

You’re most welcome. Good luck with your dissertation.

moha

best ever benefit i got on right time thank you

Krishnan iyer

Many times Clarity and vision of destination of dissertation is what makes the difference between good ,average and great researchers the same way a great automobile driver is fast with clarity of address and Clear weather conditions .

I guess Great researcher = great ideas + knowledge + great and fast data collection and modeling + great writing + high clarity on all these

You have given immense clarity from start to end.

Alwyn Malan

Morning. Where will I write the definitions of what I’m referring to in my report?

Rose

Thank you so much Derek, I was almost lost! Thanks a tonnnn! Have a great day!

yemi Amos

Thanks ! so concise and valuable

Kgomotso Siwelane

This was very helpful. Clear and concise. I know exactly what to do now.

dauda sesay

Thank you for allowing me to go through briefly. I hope to find time to continue.

Patrick Mwathi

Really useful to me. Thanks a thousand times

Adao Bundi

Very interesting! It will definitely set me and many more for success. highly recommended.

SAIKUMAR NALUMASU

Thank you soo much sir, for the opportunity to express my skills

mwepu Ilunga

Usefull, thanks a lot. Really clear

Rami

Very nice and easy to understand. Thank you .

Chrisogonas Odhiambo

That was incredibly useful. Thanks Grad Coach Crew!

Luke

My stress level just dropped at least 15 points after watching this. Just starting my thesis for my grad program and I feel a lot more capable now! Thanks for such a clear and helpful video, Emma and the GradCoach team!

Judy

Do we need to mention the number of words the dissertation contains in the main document?

It depends on your university’s requirements, so it would be best to check with them 🙂

Christine

Such a helpful post to help me get started with structuring my masters dissertation, thank you!

Simon Le

Great video; I appreciate that helpful information

Brhane Kidane

It is so necessary or avital course

johnson

This blog is very informative for my research. Thank you

avc

Doctoral students are required to fill out the National Research Council’s Survey of Earned Doctorates

Emmanuel Manjolo

wow this is an amazing gain in my life

Paul I Thoronka

This is so good

Tesfay haftu

How can i arrange my specific objectives in my dissertation?

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Dissertation examples

Listed below are some of the best examples of research projects and dissertations from undergraduate and taught postgraduate students at the University of Leeds We have not been able to gather examples from all schools. The module requirements for research projects may have changed since these examples were written. Refer to your module guidelines to make sure that you address all of the current assessment criteria. Some of the examples below are only available to access on campus.

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Tips and Tricks for Your Engineering Dissertation

Engineering dissertations require an effective methodological approach to be successful. We understand that writing such a dissertation can be daunting, especially for engineering students who may not have much academic writing experience. That's why we've compiled a list of tips and tricks for engineering students to help them structure and write a top-notch dissertation.

  • Find Our Quality Engineering Dissertation Topics

One tip that we highly recommend is to look at engineering dissertation examples. Seeing how other students have successfully structured their dissertations can be a great way to get ideas and inspiration for your own work. Here are the best engineering dissertation examples from Premier Dissertations.

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Approaches for Engineering Dissertations

1.   Qualitative Approaches

Qualitative research is defined as "a situated activity that develops knowledge within a natural setting" (Maykut & Morehouse, 1994, p. 41). In other words, qualitative research is concerned with understanding social phenomena from the participants' perspective within the context in which they live and work. Qualitative methods are best suited for exploratory and descriptive research questions. These methods allow for flexibility and don't require hypothesis testing. Some common qualitative methods include interviews, focus groups, ethnography, and content analysis.

2.   Quantitative Approaches

On the other hand, quantitative research is defined as a "systematic empirical investigation of quantitative properties and phenomena" (Borg & Gall, 1989, p. 5). In other words, quantitative research is concerned with measuring variables and analyzing data using statistical methods. Quantitative methods are best suited for testing hypotheses and determining cause-and-effect relationships. Some common quantitative methods include surveys, experiments, and secondary data analysis.

3.   Mixed-Methods Approaches

Mixed-methods research is "the kind of study that uses both quantitative and qualitative approaches" (Creswell & Plano Clark, 2011, p. 209). Mixed-methods research uses both sets of methods to triangulate the data and comprehensively understand the phenomenon under study. Mixed-methods research is best suited for complex phenomena that cannot be fully captured using one methodology alone.

Here are some topics of engineering dissertation examples to get you started;

  • The Design of Low-Cost Housing in Developing Countries
  • The Impact of Climate Change on Infrastructure
  • The Use of Recycled Materials in Construction
  • The Application of Green Engineering Principles to the Built Environment
  • The Relationship Between the Properties of Concrete and Its Microstructure
  • An Investigation Into the Use of Recycled Materials in Road Construction
  • A Study Into the Strength and Durability of Different Types of Brick
  • The Impact of Different Curing Methods on the Strength of Concrete

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10 Tips and Tricks for Your Engineering Dissertation

Here are 10 tips and tricks for your engineering dissertation. These tips are meant to serve as guidelines and should be adapted to fit the specific requirements of your program.

1.      Choose a Topic that Interests You

It may seem like a bit of obvious advice, but it is worth reiterating. The dissertation process will be much more pleasant if you choose a topic that you are passionate about. You will enjoy the research process more, and your enthusiasm will shine through in your writing.

2.      Get to Know Your Advisor

Your advisor will be your number-one resource throughout the dissertation process. Schedule regular meetings with your advisor to discuss your progress and get feedback on your work. It is also a good idea to develop a rapport with other faculty members in your department who may be able to offer helpful insights or feedback on your work.

3.      Develop a Timeline and Stick To It

Once you have settled on a topic and have begun the research process, developing a timeline for completing your dissertation is important. This timeline should be realistic and consider major milestones or deadlines, such as final exams or thesis defences. By sticking to a timeline, you can ensure that you stay on track and avoid any last-minute scrambles to finish your work.

4.      Stay Organized

This tip goes hand-in-hand with developing a timeline for your dissertation. Once you have established a timeline, it is important to break down the individual tasks that need to be completed to meet each deadline. Developing a detailed plan of attack will help you stay on track and avoid getting overwhelmed by the project's scope.

5.      Don't Forget About the Little Things

When working on such an extensive project, it is easy to get caught up in the big picture and lose sight of the smaller details. Remember to proofread your work, cite all sources correctly, and format your document according to the requirements set forth by your department or institution. Paying attention to these smaller details will go a long way in ensuring that your work meets all expectations.

6.      Set Aside Time for Breaks

Working on a dissertation can be taxing, both mentally and physically. Be sure to take some time for yourself throughout the process and allow yourself some time to relax and recharge. Taking occasional breaks will help you remain fresh and focused when working on such an important project.

7.      Seek Out Feedback

In addition to seeking feedback from your advisor, it can also be helpful to solicit feedback from other knowledgeable individuals about your topic or field of study. Getting outside perspectives on your work can help shed light on areas needing further development or clarification.

8.      Be Prepared For Setbacks

Despite our best efforts, there will inevitably be some setbacks along the way when working on such an extensive project—staying positive and being resilient in the face of these challenges is crucial for maintaining forward momentum. Try not to get too discouraged if things don't go according to plan—adjust your timeline and move forward with your work.

9.      Reward Yourself Along the Way

It's important not to forget to celebrate each accomplishment, no matter how small, as you progress toward completing your dissertation. Whether completing a writing section or successfully defending a proposal, take time to motivate yourself by rewarding your successes.

10.  Take Pride in Your Work

Completing a doctoral degree is an incredible accomplishment, and you should allow yourself to be proud of all the hard work you put into earning it! The dissertation process can be complex and challenging, but Ultimately it will lead to something that you can be extremely proud of having accomplished!

When deciding which methodological approach to taking for an engineering dissertation, students should consider the type of research question they are trying to answer as well as the strengths and weaknesses of each methodology. Students should consult their supervisor to decide which methodological approach suits their engineering dissertation project best.

If you are pursuing any engineering discipline, check out some previously written engineering dissertation examples to see how they are structured and formatted. You can consult with professional writers at Premier Dissertations if you want an outstanding document.

To learn more about how to write various dissertation sections, explore the following examples;

  • Using Primary and Secondary Data for Research

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An Analysis of the Implications of Using Digital Engineering and Bim in the Design, Construction and Maintenance of Highway Infrastructure in the UK

Digital engineering in construction comprises all digital technologies and tools that are imperative for the construction project. One of the most advanced and commonly used digital technologies in the construction segment is BIM or Building Information Modelling.

BIM has been able to virtually assess all the important aspects of a construction project from planning designs to planning the resources and assessing the risks of the design and cost-effectiveness. Based on these aspects, the current study aimed to analyse the implications of digital engineering and BIM in the UK’s design, construction and maintenance of highway infrastructure.

To address the aim of the study, a survey was conducted amongst the employees associated with various highway infrastructure projects in the UK. The study included 68 employees associated with various highway infrastructure projects in the UK. Based on the current findings, it was indicated that all the implicative factors of using BIM and the advantages of using BIM in the projects are significant as the p-value was less than 0.05. Therefore, the usage of BIM is very important in highway construction projects and overall usage. Limitations and future scope of the study have also been presented.

Chapter 1: Introduction

Digital Engineering, “the targeted form of the digital transformation of engineering is emerging with different names globally, such as Industry 4.0. Digital engineering incorporates digital technologies such as IoT, smart cyber-physical systems, big data, AI, ML, robotics, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), digital twin, 3D printing, digital trust, and blockchain (Zimmerman, Gilbert, and Salvatore, 2019).

Digital engineering is a manifestation of digital transformation in the field of engineering. Digital Engineering in the construction segment, or Building Information Modelling (BIM), is much more than developing models. It emphasises harnessing the true potential of the construction industry and creating a platform for multiple applications by integrating digitisation and GIS.

This state-of-the-art digital technology enables the industry to integrate data about a building’s design, construction, and future function to develop the most efficient delivery methods (Zimmerman et al. 2019). In due course of time, the utility of BIM has only increased and using different modules, and the industry will be able to apply digital engineering solutions to many problems that otherwise have convoluted solutions (Smith, 2014).

Construction has started to use these engineering methods to develop connected systems of sensors, intelligent machines, mobile devices, and new software applications, all integrated on a central platform of building information modelling (BIM) (Shen et al. 2010). Their adoption has only increased in the past decade enabling companies to boost productivity, manage complexity, reduce project delays and cost overruns, and enhance safety and quality.

Rationale of the Study

Many incumbents in this fragmented industry have been struggling to adapt and benefit from BIM and digital technologies. A wide range of successful implementations highlights opportunities along the construction value chain (Shen et al. 2010). Digital engineering and BIM have allowed the commercial, infrastructure, and industrial sectors to showcase tremendous efficiency and productivity gains for the industry.

Digitalisation has fundamentally changed the industry, enabling efficiency and quality gains along the value chain and reshuffling the competitive league table of companies and countries. The key feature of the technology transformation is the software platform and control layer, which consists in large part of BIM.

As the successor to traditional computer-aided design (CAD), BIM now serves all stakeholders along the value chain, using virtual modelling and information to simulate any aspect of the asset’s life (He et al. 2012). Further up the architecture, new additive construction methods, such as 3-D printing, are becoming applicable even to large-scale building components and concrete structures (Merschbrock and Munkvold, 2015).

Companies can also use 3-D scanners to create digital models of complex buildings and thereby facilitate renovations, conduct quality assurance, and monitor the deterioration of materials. The application of digital technologies in specific use cases demonstrates the enormous opportunities along the value chain, from early conceptual design to the very end of an asset’s life cycle, in the demolition phase (He et al. 2012).

By applying the right technologies in the right way, construction companies can reduce the asset’s construction time and whole-life-cycle cost and enhance the quality of processes and improve safety, working conditions, and sustainability.” Therefore, it is important to understand how digital engineering and BIM have been applied to the highway infrastructure projects of the UK.

Aims and objectives

The research aims to analyse the implications of using digital engineering and BIM in the UK’s design, construction and maintenance of highway infrastructure.

The research objectives are;

To analyse the present methods of designing, constructing and maintaining highways

To evaluate the potential of digital engineering and BIM in construction projects

To investigate how digital engineering and BIM can be used in the UK for the design, construction and maintenance of highway infrastructure

Research Questions

The research questions of the study are;

  • What are the present methods of designing, constructing and maintaining highways?
  • What is the potential of digital engineering and BIM in construction projects?
  • How can digital engineering and BIM be used in the UK to design, construct and maintain highway infrastructure?

Research Structure

The current research structure has been segregated as introduction being chapter 1 with a brief background of the study report followed by chapter 2, the literature review. The literature review had presented an in-depth assessment of the theories and review of past literature. In chapter 3, the methodology used in collecting data and other processes has been presented, chapter 4 presented the data findings and the results. Lastly, chapter 5 is the conclusion chapter whereby the research objectives have been addressed.

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Chapter 2: Literature Review

Introduction.

In this chapter, theoretical aspects of digital engineering and BIM has been presented based on the findings from the past literature papers and journal as well as relevant whitepapers and e-news. The in-depth description of the need and importance of digitalisation and its impact on the construction industry have been presented.

Building Information Modelling (BIM) and its Contribution to the Construction Industry

BIM or building information modelling is a form of digital engineering technology “whose role is to provide with the digital form of construction and asset operations. It combinescombines technology, process improvements and digital information to radically improve client and project outcomes and asset operations (Merschbrock and Munkvold, 2015).

BIM is a strategic enabler for improving decision-making for buildings and public infrastructure assets across the whole lifecycle. It applies to new build projects; crucially, BIM supports the renovation, refurbishment and maintenance of the built environment, the largest sector share.

BIM offers economic, environmental and social benefits across a range of different public stakeholders (Eadie et al. 2013). Social benefits can be delivered to the public infrastructure owner by utilising BIM effectively in public planning and consultation to build support for new or updated public infrastructure, such as highway placement, water containment features or public building refurbishment.

This public engagement can support public infrastructure that is well designed and aligned with the needs of the local community resulting in improved social outcomes such as better resource planning, greater use of public facilities or mapping and protection of architectural historic heritage (Merschbrock and Munkvold, 2015).

BIM can support environmental benefits, such as more accurate material ordering leading to less waste to landfill and optimised simulation of energy analysis leading to lower energy demands from the built environment (Latiffi et al. 2013). BIM allows to harness the value of data by using model information and new ways of working to better support new construction techniques, scheduling, cost, quality, coordination, fabrication, sequencing and facilities management to name but a few.

BIM also helps architects, engineers, and constructors visualise what is to be built in a simulated environment to identify any potential design, construction, or operational issues (Eadie et al. 2013). BIM technology provides an accurate virtual model of a building digitally constructed.

When completed, the building information model contains precise geometry and relevant data needed to support the design, procurement, fabrication, and construction activities required to realise the building (Khosrowshahi and Arayici, 2012).” Therefore, it may be implicated that the BIM assists in more effective and efficient infrastructure project design, construction and maintenance.

Existing Construction Methods

Information technology is one of the most important existing technologies that are used in every industry for different business operations as well as in the infrastructure and construction segment. It helps to improve the construction projects’ management system and better management of resources in designing infrastructures and other applications (Stark, Israel, and Wöhler, 2010).

Information sources are very important in the project success, especially in construction projects as it helps with resource management like cost assessment, schedule management, designing of infrastructure and assessment of the designs. Some of the major areas of IT application in the construction segment are resource assessment, procurement of resources, schedule management, construction flow management, cost maintenance, and project planning (Eadie et al. 2013).

One of the greatest contributions of IT in the construction industry is CAD or Computer-Aided Drafting, a widely used primary designing and infrastructure management tool. It helps in designing and assessing the designs but also helps in construction planning, organising, operation, and control. CAD has also evolved over the past few decades and has developed from designing from 2D to 3D images and now even helps in 4D imaging of the infrastructure (Stark et al. 2010).

The main purpose of using CAD is to assess the durability of a structure, types of materials that will improve the structure, animation of the design, and others, enabling complete assessments and predictions for the design. Another similar technology is a 3D studio, but unlike CAD it is limited to only designing and assessing the design in the construction project.

AutoCAD Architecture is another existing tool still used massively in all construction projects. They help design windows, doors, walls, and the entire building or an infrastructure roadmap (Khosrowshahi and Arayici, 2012). Similar other technologies are still being used in the construction segment even when new emerging technologies have improved the efficiencies in construction.

Implementation of BIM in the UK

Over the past decade, “construction projects have been completed and documented in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Germany, France, Singapore and Australia, demonstrating the capability of BIM in construction. Projects are demonstrated for more sustainable products than non-BIM usage (Eadie et al. 2013).

BIM tools and processes have been developed to considerably improve productivity in the industry and make it possible to manage the information generated and maintained throughout the lifecycle of buildings more efficiently. Research has shown that business and IT directors of the UK’s largest contractors and consultants are fully aware of the benefits of advancements in information and communication technologies.

The main barriers to implementation relate to organisational readiness to change (Dakhil, Underwood, and Alshawi, 2019). Amongst the construction companies in the UK that have adopted the BIM tool had implemented them in 3 stages; stage 1 being object-based modelling, stage 2 is model-based collaboration and stage 3 is network-based integration.

In stage 1, migration from 2D to 3D and object-based modelling and documentation occurs. The BIM model is made of real architectural elements that are represented correctly in all views. The BIM model is still single-disciplinary and the deliverables are mostly CAD-like documents, existing contractual relationships and liability issues persist (Eadie et al. 2013).

Stage 2 is about designing and managing a building is a highly complex process that requires smooth communication and collaboration among all project team members. This stage requires integrated data communication and data sharing between the stakeholders to support this collaborative approach.

The last stage comprises transition from collaboration to integration and reflects the real underlying BIM technology (Dakhil, Underwood, and Alshawi, 2019). At this stage, project lifecycle phases dissolve substantially and players interact in real-time to generate real benefits from increasingly virtual workflows.

So, BIM is seen as an efficient information management methodology within construction projects. Different BIM technologies available to date may provide different organisational capabilities; hence, stakeholders are required to assess currently available technologies on the market so that selection of suitable technology may intercept a future strategy (Eadie et al. 2015).

This may incorporate further services that the organisation is willing to provide in the future. Similarly, multiple tools may be required to achieve specific outcomes in some circumstances. Due to the variety of software and tools being used many different types of file formats are involved.

Given that such tools provide various features with different complexities, stakeholders should ensure forward compatibility with their goals. Quantity and quality management has been an important part of such product listings. Quantity data can also assist the appropriate site management feature, like site safety and minimising onsite storage.

Costing and scheduling can provide timely project completions with maximum profits/savings (Dakhil, Underwood, and Alshawi, 2019). From a UK perspective, The National Building Specification has conducted annual BIM reports and surveys, the latest 32 NBS BIM report 2015 depicts an expanding outlook, showing that BIM adoption in the UK has gained traction, 33 increasing its adoption level from 13% in 2010 to 40% in 2012 and continuing to 50% in 2014 a substantial increase 34 in a short period of time (Eadie et al. 2015).

In the UK alone, the lack of interoperability is estimated to cost £100 million a year due to waste processes of poorly structured information sharing. This suggests that since the raised awareness and utilisation of BIM in the UK, traditional methods are unable to innovate and adapt.

In some projects, however, it is still essential to adopt traditional 2D CAD drawings; especially for firms that have not invested in BIM, so that they can contribute to projects and make cost estimations. This way of working can still provide a positive cost improvement overall as both approaches are being utilised. For the companies that have adopted BIM methods, 2D CAD formats are compatible with BIM and can be imported and exported to the required software (Gledson and Greenwood, 2017).

The adoption of BIM has heightened since the UK government announced in 2011 that all construction projects are to be delivered utilising BIM, especially in 3D (Kumar, 2015). BIM utilisation can prove to be highly efficient as a means of providing an information-sharing environment among stakeholders and as a means of eliminating excessive printing and storing of documents. This is very positive for the design team as the data required is readily available to all involved and an overall view of the project’s development is also accessible.”

Emerging Digital Engineering Technologies for Infrastructure

Digital engineering comprises of industry 4.0 and in the construction industry, it is termed as Construction 4.0. One example of digital engineering is the application of blockchain, “which provides solutions to many current problems in construction information management (Tilson, Lyytinen, and Sørensen, 2010).

However, it is more likely that it will be built into generic IT infrastructure on top of which construction applications are built, rather than used directly by authors of construction-related software. It can potentially make construction processes less centralised, opening the need for research in that direction.

Industry 4.0 strives on the principle of creating a smart construction site, simulation and virtual storage of data allowing construction companies to arrange and evaluate data from different stages of the construction project and from end-users after completion of the construction project towards delivering a faster, more flexible construction project at a higher-quality and reduced cost (Klinc and Turk, 2019).

However, despite the advantage and benefits of applying industry 4.0 concepts for construction projects, few studies have been conducted globally towards examining the awareness of construction professionals for the application of the industry 4.0 concept in the construction segment.

The main idea of digital engineering is to create a digital construction site assisted by attaching internet-connected sensors like IoT on the equipment and each stage of the construction project to monitor progress coupled with drones and virtual simulation (Klinc and Turk, 2019).

This opinion recognises different digital technologies as the process of implementing modern technology to encourage the digitisation of the construction industry as well as the supply chain; thereby, leading to an increased performance of the” sector.

Table 1: List of emerging digital engineering tools

Chapter 3: Research Methodology

This “chapter of the study details the research methods, which are to be undertaken for the completion of the research regarding the implications of using digital engineering and BIM in the design, construction and maintenance of highway infrastructure in the UK.

Research Paradigm and Philosophy

The research paradigm depicts a verified and established model being used to investigate how the research problem can be addressed (Antwi and Hamza, 2015). The three types are methodological, epistemological and ontological. The research philosophy depicts the investigator’s ideas and thoughts regarding approaching the research to answer the research problem (Kumar, 2019).

Positivism research philosophy is related to the concept of learning the truth and science to gain adequate knowledge related to the subject area. A positivism research philosophy has been used in this investigation for or procuring transfers the knowledge about the challenges of training and progress of the workforce in the construction of the UK from verifiable sources using quantitative methods and their perceptions.

The research related to the challenges associated with executives in the construction sector would be conducted by gaining information from all the possible sources, which help the researcher to extract the truth about the subject with having factual details.

Research Design

Research design refers to the general planning that has demonstrated the stages for justifying the fulfilment of the research goal. The research design depicts the investigator’s overall plan for providing a solution to the research problem (Kumar, 2019). The exploratory research design has been used in this investigation to evaluate the perceptions of using digital engineering and BIM in the design, construction and maintenance of highway infrastructure in the UK.

Moreover, the information based on the strategies and planning against the challenges are also reflected through the following exploratory research design. Following a particular research design, the researcher would also identify the working fields in the construction sector and the loopholes of service from the end of employees or management that has affected the service quality.

Research Approach

Research approach has enabled the researcher to determine the progress pattern of the study through evaluating the evidence and formulating effective decisions. Following an inductive research approach, the connection between the research components is explored.

The inductive research approach would also help the researcher connect the study parameters for framing the justification and analysis against the particular research goal. The research would receive a new direction of the study by extracting quality details about the challenges in the construction sector from the secondary sources highlighted as the advantage of research. On the other hand, relying on factual details would also make contradictions related to the strategies associated with preventing the challenges. The assessment of the study would also be critical by following the approach.

Research Strategy

Research design is described through the activities that need to be incorporated for completing the study and publishing adequate information against the argument. The research strategy is mainly formulated based on the study pattern and the researcher’s capabilities, which has also indicated the completion of research in a systematic manner (Saunders and Lewis, 2012).

It involves the appropriate selection of research philosophy, approach and design, data collection method, and interpretation of collected data. The research related to the implications of using digital engineering and BIM in the construction sector would be progressed through a quantitative manner as the information of employees would be explored for extracting the details related to the issues of the employees.

Data Collection Methods

The data gathering method mainly focused on the approaches and techniques of collecting the information that will be analysed for exploring the study. The general research studies follow the primary and secondary data collection method (Saunders and Lewis, 2012).

The research on the perceptions of digital engineering and BIM usage in the design, construction and maintenance of highway infrastructure in the UK has been conducted through the following survey methodology. The secondary information has been collected from the journal articles, books, website articles and reports published by different companies. Primary data will be collected from the employees of different construction companies in the UK to help the researcher interpret the subject’s critical details.

Sampling Methods

Sampling is considered the approach applied in the statistical analysis where the predetermined observation numbers are extracted from a large population for any meaningful purpose. As the study would explore the perceptions of usage of digital engineering and BIM, purposive method from non-probability sampling has been incorporated which allowed the choice of targeting all employees from the construction industry in the UK to be chosen randomly for the survey.

Initially, a total of 120 questionnaires were received from the survey and after compilation and cleaning of the data only 68 questionnaires or responses were selected based on completely filled-in responses. Therefore, the same size of the study is 68 employees from the companies that are working on highway infrastructure projects in the UK.

Data Analysis

The data analysis section will demonstrate the system of assessing and evaluating the information by utilising analytical and legal reasoning. The interpretation of collected primary and secondary data would justify the execution of the goal of the research (Kumar, 2019). The quantitative data would be analysed through descriptive analysis which would explore the critical aspects of the faced challenges of employees in the construction sector.

Quantitative data gathered from the participants would be evaluated using the SPSS tool to justify the employees’ opinions about their perceptions of digital engineering and BIM usage. Different statistical tools have been conducted, like distribution analysis, frequency analysis, correlation, ANOVA testing and regression.

Ethical Considerations

Ethical aspects also need to be followed by the researcher to make the study reliable and validate for future recommendation. The research is based on identifying perceptions of digital engineering and BIM usage in the construction segment, especially highway infrastructure in the UK.

The employees are also not asked questions requiring personal data, which is included under the ethical principles. In contrast, the employees are already informed about the questions asked in the survey. The research would also follow the legal aspects of the Data Protection Act (1998) which has ensured the maintenance of security protocol for conducting the study.” The university however provided the ethical approval.

Chapter 4: Data Analysis

In this chapter, “the findings from the statistical assessments have been presented. The study conducted only statistical analyses and was segregated into the descriptive and inferential analysis. The descriptive assessments were presented in the form of frequency assessments and graphical presentations, whereas, the inferential part was presented through ANOVA, correlations, and regressions.

This chapter has further five more sections, the demographic part, the general description, reliability tests, hypothesis 1 testing and hypothesis 2 testing. In addition to these sections, there is also a summary section that concludes the findings from the statistical assessments.”

Descriptive Assessment

Based on the current findings, it was found that the majority of the participants of the study were technicians (18%), followed by 16% for civil engineers, 10% were highway contractors, 13% were also architects.

Full-dissertation-Civil-Engineering

Figure 1: Occupation

Furthermore, it was also found that 24% of the total participants were maintenance contractors, 19% were building contractors and civil engineering contractors, and only a few were from government authorities or local authorities involved in the targeted highway projects.

Full-dissertation-Civil-Engineering

Figure 2: Type of company

To assess the systems used in order to gather and store information on projects and programs of work, it was found that 34% of them use BIM whereas 18% still use symbology and 25% use the company’s own systems.

Full-dissertation-Civil-Engineering

Figure 3: Type of systems used

Furthermore, the level for BIM usage used in the current highway projects has been assessed and 52% of them use level 2, which comprises basic BIM applications, followed by 19% using level 3, which includes iBIM, lifecycle management, and other advanced BIMs.

Full-dissertation-Civil-Engineering

Figure 4: Level of BIM usage

Furthermore, the level of BIM do clients ask for on highway projects and programs was also assessed and 32% believe that customers demand level 2 application of BIM whereas 26% of them say that customers demand level 3 BIM applications.

Full-dissertation-Civil-Engineering

Figure 5: Level of BIM demanded by clients

Furthermore, the participants of the study were also asked for their perceptions on the benefit of applying all levels of BIM on highway projects. It was noted that at least 72% of the total participants of the study indicated that there is a benefit of applying all levels of BIM on highway projects and programs. However, 9% of the participants also denied the same. This may indicate that they either have low information on the applications of BIM or have only used BUM for certain levels of construction work.

Full-dissertation-Civil-Engineering

Figure 6: There is a benefit of BIM

In this section, the employees were asked for the type of technology used other than BIM in the highway project and 54% of the total state that they use 3D and 4D CAD tools, followed by 24% using 3D studios for the projects and 22% used other commercial applications.

Full-dissertation-Civil-Engineering

Figure 7: Tools other than BIM in construction

Lastly, the implications to using BIM indicated that the majority of the participants perceived them to be all relevant and they were cost-effectiveness, environmental preservation, low carbon footprint, redesigning of existing infrastructure, mapping of the highways, assessment of raw materials, predictive assessment of the durability, risk assessment and efficiency of the project workflows. No relevance was however also mentioned for cost-effectiveness and Redesigning of existing infrastructure, whereas, for others, some also stated that it was irrelevant from BIM usage.

Full-dissertation-Civil-Engineering

Figure 8: Advantages of using BIM

Hypothesis 1

In this section, the first hypothesis has been tested and interpreted using correlation tests, regression, and ANOVA tests. A correlation test was conducted to check the degree of relationship between the independent and the dependent variables because the Pearson correlation test was conducted (Gogtay and Thatte, 2017).

Furthermore, the ANOVA test was done to check the degree of variance amongst the responses or independent variables and its overall impact on the dependent variables. Finally, the regression test was conducted to check the independent variables’ impact on the dependent variable and explore if the null hypothesis is rejected or accepted.

The independent variables of the current hypothesis were It is the responsibility of the Government to ask for BIM on all highway projects and programs, The civil engineering/highways industry should take the lead in promoting BIM, BIM is solely the

responsibility of the client organisation, There is a need to raise the profile of BIM within the Civil / Highway engineering Industry, There is a need to raise the profile of BIM for the Public, Asset holding statutory authorities should introduce BIM on all Civil & highway maintenance Programs, The use of BIM systems should be mandatory for all new civil / highways infrastructure schemes.

There is a slow-up take in the use of BIM on highway schemes in the UK due to the cost of the systems. From the correlation test (table), it was observed that all the independent variables of the hypothesis had a high correlation value and positive at more than 0.8 and all the variables are significant at p<0.05.

All the factors like the responsibility of the Government to ask for BIM on all highway projects and programs, the civil engineering/highways industry should take the lead in promoting BIM, BIM is solely the responsibility of the client organisation, there is a need to raise the profile of BIM within the Civil / Highway engineering Industry, there is a need to raise the profile of BIM for the Public, asset holding statutory authorities should introduce BIM on all Civil & highway maintenance Programs, the use of BIM systems should be mandatory for all new civil / highways infrastructure schemes, and there is a slow-up take in the use of BIM on highway schemes in the UK due to the cost of the systems were found to have a correlation value of more than 0.8.

Table 2: Correlation for hypothesis 1

Furthermore, the ANOVA test also found that over 95% of the responses lie in the regression line or 95% of the participants gave similar responses to the implementation of BIM. All the factors like the responsibility of the Government to ask for BIM on all highway projects and programs, The civil engineering/highways industry should take the lead in promoting BIM, BIM is solely the responsibility of the client organisation, there is a need to raise the profile of BIM within the Civil / Highway engineering Industry, there is a need to raise the profile of BIM for the Public, asset holding statutory authorities should introduce BIM on all Civil & highway maintenance Programs, the use of BIM systems should be mandatory for all new civil / highways infrastructure schemes, and there is a slow-up take in the use of BIM on highway schemes in the UK due to the cost of the systems were found to have p<0.05 at 95% CI.

Table 3: Regression and ANOVA for hypothesis 1

Hypothesis 2

Again, in this section, hypotheses were tested for the impact of BIM to enhance operations in the construction industry based on opportunities of the same was assessed. Similar to the previous section, hypothesis 2 has been tested and interpreted with the help of correlation tests, regression, and ANOVA tests (Kim, 2017).

In this section, the significant aspects of using BIM in the construction segment have been assessed. The independent variables of the study are BIM aids collaboration and brings different sectors together, the application of BIM reduces the amount of time taken on the delivery & construction of highway schemes, the application of BIM reduces the amount of cost taken on the delivery & construction of highway schemes, the application of BIM increases the quality of delivery of civil / highway engineering projects, asset holding statutory authorities should introduce BIM on all Civil & highway maintenance programs, use of BIM and the consideration of whole life costs should drive the use of innovative products, and the use of BIM improves highway maintenance therefore road safety in use.

From the correlation test (table), it was noticed that all the factors of BIM have a significant impact and its implementation in highway infrastructure. Therefore, factors like BIM aids

collaboration and brings different sectors together, the application of BIM reduces the amount of time taken on the delivery & construction of highway schemes, the application of BIM reduces the amount of cost taken on the delivery & construction of highway schemes, the application of BIM increases the quality of delivery of civil / highway engineering projects, asset holding statutory authorities should introduce BIM on all Civil & highway maintenance programs, use of BIM and the consideration of whole life costs should drive the use of innovative products, and the use of BIM improves highway maintenance, therefore, road safety in use were all found to have significance in the application of BIM.

Table 4: Correlation for hypothesis 2

Furthermore, the ANOVA test findings suggested that at least 99% of the independent variables lie on the regression line and so 99% of the responses were also the same for factors of the significance of the application of BIM and its opportunities in the highway construction segment of the UK. From the regression assessment, in the table below, it was also found that the factors like BIM have a significant impact and their implementation in highway infrastructure. Therefore, factors like BIM aids collaboration and brings different sectors together, the application of BIM reduces the amount of time taken on the delivery & construction of highway schemes, the application of BIM reduces the amount of cost taken

on the delivery & construction of highway schemes, the application of BIM increases the quality of delivery of civil / highway engineering projects, asset holding statutory authorities should introduce BIM on all Civil & highway maintenance programs, use of BIM and the consideration of whole life costs should drive the use of innovative products, and the use of BIM improves highway maintenance, therefore, road safety in use had a p-value less than 0.05 at 95%. Therefore, the null hypothesis is rejected and it may be stated that.

Table 5: Regression and ANOVA for hypothesis 2

Discussions

Two main areas of hypothetical models were chosen for the current study, one was the implications of implementation of BIM, and the other was the advantages of implementing BIM at highway infrastructure in the UK. With respect to implications of implementation of BIM, all the factors or opportunities for implementation were found to be significant, so it may be implicated from the findings that the UK government has a significant role in the implementation of BIM in the construction industry.

Apart from the government, it is also the responsibility of the client organisations and the construction contractors to implement BIM or demand for the same so that the projects are cost-effective and resilient. These findings can be related to the study by Kumar, (2015) who indicated that the UK government has made it mandatory for all the construction companies to implement since 2011 and therefore, it may be stated that government is one of the most important motivators in implementation of BIM for highway infrastructure projects.

Furthermore, it was also found from the second model that there are multiple advantages of using BIM as perceived by the participants. The most relevant advantages are cost-effectiveness, schedule management, effective planning and designing and risk assessment.

These findings can also be related to the studies conducted by Eadie et al. (2013) and Latiffi et al. (2013) who also found similar implications and the advantages of using BIM in construction projects. They found that BIM has multiple advantages over other existing tools and computational systems as they help manage the overall project planning and thereby improve the construction project’s performance.

Therefore, it may be implicated that, the UK government has a significant role in the mandatory implementation of BIM in construction projects, and this is because BIM implementation provides for cost-effectiveness, schedule management, effective planning and designing and risk assessment.

In this chapter, the data analysis findings were presented, and descriptive and inferential analyses were presented. As for the descriptive analysis, the general information like occupation, category of company, systems currently used in order to gather and store information on projects and programs of work, level of BIM application, level of BIM demanded by customers, types of technology using other than BIM, and the most relevant importance of BIM was assessed.

Furthermore, from the inferential analysis, it was also observed that the main hypotheses that the implementation of BIM is important and the opportunities to apply BIM in highway infrastructure were accepted. This is because all the factors the like responsibility of the Government to ask for BIM on all highway projects and programs, the civil engineering/highways industry should take the lead in promoting BIM, BIM is solely the responsibility of the client organisation, there is a need to raise the profile of BIM within the Civil / Highway engineering Industry, there is a need to raise the profile of BIM for the Public, asset holding statutory authorities should introduce BIM on all Civil & highway maintenance Programs, the use of BIM systems should be mandatory for all new civil / highways infrastructure schemes, and there is a slow-up take in the use of BIM on highway schemes in the UK due to the cost of the systems as implications of BIM implementation.

Again, all factors like BIM aids collaboration and brings different sectors together, the application of BIM reduces the amount of time taken on the delivery & construction of highway schemes, the application of BIM reduces the amount of cost taken on the delivery & construction of highway schemes, the application of BIM increases the quality of delivery of civil / highway engineering projects, asset holding statutory authorities should introduce BIM on all Civil & highway maintenance programs, use of BIM and the consideration of whole life costs should drive the use of innovative products, and the use of BIM improves highway maintenance, therefore, road safety in use were also found to show significant opportunities in the implementation of BIM in highway infrastructure. In the next chapter, discussions and the objectives have been addressed along with recommendations and limitations of the study.

Chapter 5: Conclusions

The research aims to conduct an analysis of the implications of using digital engineering and BIM in the design, construction and maintenance of highway infrastructure in the UK. The key feature of the technology transformation is the software platform and control layer, which consists in large part of BIM.

Further up the architecture, new additive construction methods, such as 3-D printing, are becoming applicable even to large-scale building components and concrete structures. By applying the right technologies in the right way, construction companies can reduce the asset’s construction time and whole-life-cycle cost and enhance the quality of processes and improve safety, working conditions, and sustainability.

Therefore, a survey assessment was done amongst the employees associated with different highway infrastructure development projects in the UK. The study included 68 employees associated with various highway infrastructure projects in the UK. Two main aspects were explored, the implications of using BIM in construction projects and the advantages of using BIM in the highway infrastructure project. In both cases, there was a significant implication on motivating the usage of BIM. The BIM applications have different advantages in highway infrastructure as the p-value was found to be less than 0.05 at 95% CI.

Addressing the Research Objectives

Based on the literature review, it was indicated that apart from BIM and digital engineering methods, there are technologies like 3D and 4D CAD, 3D designing tools and other virtual reality methods that help in designing, constructing and maintaining highway infrastructure projects.

Comparing this to the statistical findings, it was found that the current tools used for designing, constructing and maintaining highways include BIM, CAD, 3D modelling and other computerised methods. It was also found from the survey assessment that many highway infrastructure companies have designing systems that help them design, construct and maintain highway projects in the UK.

Based on the literature findings and comparing to the survey findings the potential of digital engineering and BIM in construction projects comprises cost-effectiveness, environmental preservation, low carbon footprint, redesigning of existing infrastructure, mapping of the highways, assessment of raw materials, predictive assessment of the durability, risk assessment, and efficiency of the project workflows.

However, the potential of using BIM is based on the motivations and directions by the government as well as the demand of the customers. The government has also made it mandatory in the UK to use BIM for any construction project. Multiple contractors and organisations have also excelled in applying BIM. So there is a huge potential for the application of BIM in construction projects. Furthermore, the asset holding statutory authorities also moderate the role in the implementation of BIM and so, there is a huge potential in the same.

To address this question, the literature review indicated that BIM can be used for virtual modelling and refurbishment of existing infrastructure. By virtualisation of the process, the cost, time is taken and risks are all estimated. Furthermore, engineers can use digital engineering and BIM in highway projects to make road maps, estimate the variables, resources needed and much other functionality.

However, this can also be related to the current statistical findings whereby BIM aids collaboration and brings different sectors together, the application of BIM reduces the amount of time taken on the delivery & construction of highway schemes, the application of BIM reduces the amount of cost taken on the delivery & construction of highway schemes, the application of BIM increases the quality of delivery of civil / highway engineering projects, use of BIM and the consideration of whole life costs should drive the use of innovative products, and the use of BIM improves highway maintenance, therefore, road safety in use were all found to help in the design, construction and maintenance of highway infrastructure in the UK.

Therefore, based on the implications from both the literature review and the survey it is indicative that digital engineering and BIM can help in predictive modelling of the infrastructure as well as predict the durability, make a schedule for the project, assess costs and reduce costs, sustainability and others, and therefore, digital engineering and BIM can be used in the UK for the design, construction and maintenance of highway infrastructure.

Limitations and Future Scope

The main limitations of the current study were that only construction projects involved in highway infrastructure were included in the study. In future studies, it must be seen that all construction companies from different segments like refurbishment, industrial segment, residential, highways, and others must be included to better understand the potential of BIM application and its effects.

Another limitation was that the study was not able to include interview data because of lack of time for the completion of the study, and most of the managers approached for the same rejected the proposal for interviews. Interviews would help to gather in-depth information on the applications of BIM, its challenges and opportunities and others and so, in future studies, a qualitative study using interviews must also be conducted.

One last limitation of the study was schedule management. Due to the current travel restrictions and social distancing protocols, the induction of the survey questions and the collection of the same took longer than expected. Therefore, in the future, an electronic method of survey questionnaire must be used so that more participants can be targeted.

If you need assistance with writing your dissertation, our professional dissertation writers are here to help!

Antwi, S.K. and Hamza, K., 2015. Qualitative and quantitative research paradigms in business research: A philosophical reflection. European journal of business and management, 7(3), pp.217-225.

Dakhil, A.J., Underwood, J. and Alshawi, M., 2019. Critical success competencies for the BIM implementation process: UK construction clients. Journal of information technology in construction (ITcon), 24, pp.80-94.

Eadie, R., Browne, M., Odeyinka, H., McKeown, C. and McNiff, S., 2013. BIM implementation throughout the UK construction project lifecycle: An analysis. Automation in construction, 36, pp.145-151.

Eadie, R., Browne, M., Odeyinka, H., Mahon, C. and McNiff, S., 2015. A survey of current status of and perceived changes required for BIM adoption in the UK. Built Environment Project and Asset Management, 5(1), pp.4-21.

Forcael, E., Ferrari, I., Opazo-Vega, A. and Pulido-Arcas, J.A., 2020. Construction 4.0: A Literature Review. Sustainability, 12(22), p.9755.

Gledson, B. and Greenwood, D., 2017. The adoption of 4D BIM in the UK construction industry: An Innovation Diffusion approach. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 24(6), pp.950-967.

Gogtay, N.J. and Thatte, U.M., 2017. Principles of correlation analysis. Journal of the Association of Physicians of India, 65(3), pp.78-81.

He, Q.H., Qian, L.L., Duan, Y.F. and Li, YK, 2012. Current situation and barriers of BIM implementation. Journal of Engineering Management, 1, pp.12-16.

Khosrowshahi, F. and Arayici, Y., 2012. Roadmap for implementation of BIM in the UK construction industry. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 19(6), pp.610-635.

Kim, T.K., 2017. Understanding one-way ANOVA using conceptual figures. Korean journal of anesthesiology, 70(1), p.22.

Kline, R. and Turk, Ž., 2019. Construction 4.0-digital transformation of one of the oldest industries. Economic and Business Review for Central and South-Eastern Europe, 21(3), pp.393-496.

Kumar, B., 2015. A practical guide to adopting BIM in construction projects. Whittles Publishing.

Kumar, R., 2019. Research methodology: A step-by-step guide for beginners. Sage.

Latif, A.A., Mohd, S., Kasim, N. and Fathi, M.S., 2013. Building information modeling (BIM) application in Malaysian construction industry. International Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 2(4A), pp.1-6.

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Smith, P., 2014. BIM implementation–global strategies. Procedia Engineering, 85, pp.482-492.

Stark, R., Israel, J.H. and Wöhler, T., 2010. Towards hybrid modelling environments—Merging desktop-CAD and virtual reality technologies. CIRP annals, 59(1), pp.179-182.

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Zimmerman, P., Gilbert, T. and Salvatore, F., 2019. Digital engineering transformation across the Department of Defense. The Journal of Defense Modeling and Simulation, 16(4), pp.325-338.

APPENDIX (Questionnaire)

This questionnaire has been produced to carry out research and gather information on Building Information Modelling (BIM) within the Civil Engineering community. The information you provide will help to gather data on how BIM is used currently within your organisation and your job role and how you feel BIM could benefit you and your work in the future. All the information you provide will be kept confidential with no identifiable information about you being passed on to any other bodies.

About yourself

⦁ Which discipline most aptly describes your occupation? (✔ the most appropriate)

About your Company

⦁ Which category most aptly describes the Company you work for? (✔ the most appropriate)

⦁ What systems do you currently use in order to gather and store information on projects and programs of work? (✔ the most appropriate)

⦁ If you use BIM. What level do you currently use on highway projects & programs? (✔ the most appropriate)

Summary of levels:

Full-dissertation-Civil-Engineering

⦁ What level of BIM do clients ask for on highway projects and programs? (✔ the most appropriate)

⦁ Do you feel there is a benefit in applying all levels of BIM on highway projects and programs? (✔ the most appropriate)

⦁ Types of digital engineering used other than BIM (✔ the most appropriate)

⦁ Advantages of using BIM and digital engineering that is most relevant (✔ the most relevant for each of the factors)

⦁ Enter answers from 1 to 5 below in the box provided:

⦁ Should you wish to provide any further information please use the space provided

⦁ I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your time and effort in completing this questionnaire

Frequently Asked Questions

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The time to write an undergraduate full dissertation varies, but it typically takes several months, including research, drafting, and revisions.

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Doctoral researchers shine in 3MT championship

by Sarah Bender

College of Engineering students explained complex research and its importance in under three minutes in the annual Three Minute Thesis competition.

Nine doctoral students explained their complex research and its importance in under three minutes during the championship round of Carnegie Mellon University’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, held Thursday, March 14 in Tepper School of Business’ Simmons Auditorium A.

First place was awarded to Benjamin Glaser from Materials Science and Engineering . Second place was awarded to Sampada Acharya, who is studying mechanical engineering . Acharya also received both the People’s Choice Award—selected by the audience in the theater—and the Alumni Choice Award, chosen by online votes from alumni watching the livestream. Third place went to Nicole C. Auvil, who is studying chemistry in the Mellon College of Science.

The event, which is in its ninth year at Carnegie Mellon, started at the University of Queensland in 2008 and has been adopted by over 900 universities across more than 85 countries worldwide. Helen and Henry Posner, Jr. Dean of the University Libraries Keith Webster , who brought the competition to CMU, served as host of the finals.

The 3MT student winners standing on a stage

Glaser, a doctoral student in the   College of Engineering, was excited to tackle the challenge that 3MT presents. He first tried to summarize his research informally for a group of friends after watching last year’s competition—and found that it was even more challenging than he expected.

“I thought it was a very interesting problem, to distill what takes us years just to understand, but then also conveying the importance and magnitude and methods to a general audience in such a short time,” he remembered. “This year when the registration came around, I worked very hard to be able to make that connection successfully.”

I thought it was a very interesting problem, to distill what takes us years just to understand. Benjamin Glaser , Doctoral Student , Materials Science and Engineering

In his research, Glaser is exploring an advanced material discovery model to create new aluminum alloys with high temperature strength and stability and low cost and emissions.

“It’s a difficult problem that we need to be able to approach holistically, but I want people to understand that it is feasible,” he said. “In my presentation, I showed something actionable, not just simulations. I’ve already begun to get exciting results.”

Acharya, also from the College of Engineering, said she made such an impact on both in-person and livestream audiences due to the universality of her topic. Her research focuses on creating a device that can collect pathogens from surfaces, with the goal of making infectious places like hospitals less dangerous to visit.

“People don’t want to go to hospitals and then feel sicker—you go there in order to feel better and make others feel better as well,” she explained. “So my research, which addresses this huge gap that no one has really talked about in hundreds of years, spoke to everyone—especially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which really left its mark on people.”

Student presenting a project entitled "visualizing the breath of a nation"

To be truly successful, Acharya’s research requires collaboration from a variety of fields, and that’s why sharing her work with a campus-wide audience like the one assembled for 3MT was so important to her.

“This is an issue that everyone needs to work together to address—from computer scientists to mechanical engineers to roboticists to people working with artificial intelligence and beyond—and I hope that’s a takeaway from my presentation,” Acharya said. “This interdisciplinary audience is the thing that I really love about CMU. I can inspire them to think about how they can bring their work and their knowledge to try and address this gap.”

Auvil credits her successful presentation in part to her artistic slide design.

“I always try to put a lot of effort into the art side of science communication, which I feel is not given enough attention by a lot of scientists,” she explained. “Graphics and art can draw in people who wouldn’t normally be interested in science and also help them understand it in a way that words just can’t. Visuals are a universal language; they can convey things that you’ll never be able to convey with words.”

She works with a chemical analysis instrument known as a mass spectrometer, which is essential for everything from testing environmental samples to crime scenes to historic artifacts—but it’s time intensive and expensive, and sometimes even damages samples. Her research has already yielded a new scientific device that attaches to a mass spectrometer to improve this process, which she named the “Super Sniffer” due to the way it detects chemicals emanating from samples, similar to the way a nose can detect chemicals in the air.

“I love the point I’m at now, where we can work on fun applications,” Auvil said. “Every time I talk to people about my work they suggest new ideas—even at 3MT—and that’s why I love opportunities like this. Everyone has their own background that can inform what sort of applications would be important in their life, and not all of those are things that me or my advisor would think about on our own.”

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BioE Student Spotlight: Ryan Beam

Where are you from/where is your hometown?

Reading, PA

What degree type are you pursuing?

BS Bioengineering

What is your specialization, OR, do you have any other majors/minors?

Pharmaceutical track

Are you involved in any bioengineering related organizations (both inside or outside of Lehigh)? If so, please specify.

Executive member of BMES (Communications Representative) and research with Professor Gonzalez-Fernandez

Why did you decide to come to Lehigh University?

I decided to come to Lehigh because I knew I would be getting a strong education that would help prepare me for life after college. The community at Lehigh also really fosters growth both in and outside of the classroom.

Why did you decide to study bioengineering?

I decided to study bioengineering because of my interest in solving problems in health/medicine. Bioengineering is a very interdisciplinary field that connects math and engineering to the medical field. I have always loved solving problems and the medical field, and bioengineering is the perfect cross between these subjects.

What do you want to be/do after you graduate and how will this degree help you get there?

After graduation I hope to pursue a career in drug development/delivery. In just two years at Lehigh, I have been able to learn an incredible amount of information through classes and research that I will be able to apply in industry after graduation.

Share a good experience/memory with a faculty/staff member/peers/or class within bioengineering

Participating in BMES events always provide good memories. I always enjoy spending time with my peers and the BioE faculty while attending these events.

What words of wisdom do you have for current or future students of bioengineering at Lehigh?

I encourage all future bioengineering students to get involved in research. Participating in research has taught me a lot about things within the field that can’t really be taught in a classroom. Having this hands-on experience has helped me grow as a student beyond my own expectations.

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